Wellington Phoenix midfielder Alex Rufer has received a one match suspension for a red card awarded against him in last Saturday’s Match Week 3 A-League match against Macarthur FC.
READ: Wellington Phoenix Release Stunning Away Kit
READ: Wellington Phoenix Draw With Macarthur FC, Dominate First Half
READ: Wellington Phoenix Welcome Unbundling Announcement
While disappointed that the red card was issued in the first place, I think this result is the best that we could have expected
The Match Review Panel (MRP) met on Monday afternoon and downgraded the offence from ‘Assault on a Player’ to ‘Serious Unsporting Conduct’ which carries a mandatory one match suspension. The club has accepted the ban and will not appeal.
Wellington Phoenix hung on for a 1-1 draw against Macarthur FC, after leading 1-0 at the time of the incident.
The decision means that Rufer will miss the Wellington Phoenix’s match versus Newcastle Jets on 24 January at WIN Stadium.
Wellington Phoenix General Manager David Dome said that the club and player have accepted the decision of the MRP.
“While disappointed that the red card was issued in the first place, I think this result is the best that we could have expected,” says Dome.
“The downgrading of the offence by the Match Review Panel is a common-sense approach and the MRP must be congratulated on this action.
“We will now move on and prepare for our home match on January 24 against Newcastle Jets.”
