The independent Disciplinary Committee – consisting of John Marshall SC (Chair), Peter Mulligan and Dominic Longo – convened to consider an incident referred to it from the Round 17 of the Hyundai A-League 2014/15 Season between Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory on Saturday, 14 February 2015.
The incident involved Sebastian Ryall (Sydney FC) and Gui Finkler (Melbourne Victory). The independent Match Review Panel referred the incident to the Disciplinary Committee to determine whether Ryall committed an act of simulation leading to a penalty kick being awarded in error.
The Disciplinary Committee found that the case for simulation was not established.
In making this ruling the Disciplinary Committee had the benefit of additional broadcast footage which was not available to the independent Match Review Panel at the time at which the Match Review Panel referred the incident.
The Disciplinary Committee found from its review of the footage and other evidence that there was contact between Ryall and Finkler, that such conduct was sufficient to cause Ryall to go to ground and that in appealing to the Referee to make a ruling, there was no intent to deceive by Ryall.
