Kevin Muscat tackle earns 8 game ban

[Guy Fawkes]

Muscat all but finished after eight-match ban

(for video of the tackle follow the link)

KEVIN MUSCAT'S A-League career is almost certainly over after the FFA last night imposed an eight-match ban for his two-footed tackle on Adrian Zahra in last week's derby against the Heart.

An FFA judicial disciplinary committee found Muscat guilty of gross recklessness. The panel took into account his poor history, in which Muscat has previously ended one player's career, inflicted long-term injuries on two other opponents, received 12 red cards and 95 yellow cards.

“We believe a lengthy suspension is justified and necessary, both as a deterrent to the player and to signal to the other players in the A-League that such conduct will not be tolerated,” said disciplinary committee chairman Lachlan Gyles SC.

The FFA took into account Muscat's public apology, but found that, irrespective of intent, the degree of recklessness showed a complete disregard for Adrian Zahra's safety.

"The committee was told during the hearing that the player had made the best part of 600 appearances as a defender ... In these circumstances, the player should have appreciated the serious risk of injury brought about by the manner of the tackle,” said Gyles.

The eight-match suspension is the second largest handed out by the FFA, and one of the largest for a dangerous tackle in world football. While Muscat reiterated his regret, he said he would not appeal the verdict. “I was prepared to accept whatever ban came my way," he said.

 

[D'Angelo Saxon]

[yt]gwHzCtRa2SE[/yt]

 

[sjamesb3466]

Absolutely shocking. The man is a nasty piece of work and tackles like that do not belong in football, even if it is in Australia!

 

[alan partridge]

ouch

 

[alan partridge]

p.s. what was he complaining about?

 

[perth seagull]

He is a lowlife and at least he will now miss the rest of Melbourne Victory's season.

 

[South Yarra Seagull]

crying shame. barely tickled him.

 

[Peever]

crying shame. barely tickled him.

Was that before or after his knee got twisted around?

 

[sydney]

muscat always has been a very hard player , not always fair it has to be said..........a tackle like that on a lad at the start of his career is woeful im afraid..........

 

[kiwigull]

apparently the guy is out for a while now with ligament damage?

 

[driller]

Sign him up

 

[algie]

First replay shows him going for the ball with a big swipe and missing.Nothing to bad in my books. 2nd replay makes it a lot worse.

I've seen far worse two footed challenges with studs showing baring down on a leg.

 

[JBizzle]

All we need is Tony Pulis to come out and say "he's not that kind if player"...

Horrid tackle but I have bizarrely seen a lot worse.

 

[crasher]

muscat always has been a very hard player , not always fair it has to be said..........a tackle like that on a lad at the start of his career is woeful im afraid..........

"not always fair" would be one way to describe Muscat. A vicious bastard would be another.

 

[severnside gull]

I've seen worse tackles in world cup finals


You can clearly see him claiming that the guy dived

 

[Box of Frogs]

Could do a job?!?!












:joker:

 

[sydney]

apparently the guy is out for a while now with ligament damage?

he had surgery yesterday.

 

[South Yarra Seagull]

muscat has been brilliant for Melbourne Victory since the start of the a league 6 years ago. He has lifted more trophies than any other cAptain in the league.
Having watched him for those 6 seasons he is a player who gives everything on the pitch. He is very talented with great touch and ability to pick and execute a pass. He also plays very close to "the line".
I have seen him get away with so much that you have to accept this ban as one of those things. A bit of payback I suppose.
Oh well, he'll be available for the Asian champions league and I just got back from watching Victory beat Gold Coast 2-0 without him, so I think we'll be ok.

 

[Austrian Gull]

No surprise that this thug has struck again - his career has been built on making such challenges.

 

[fork me]

Absolutely shocking. The man is a nasty piece of work and tackles like that do not belong in football, even if it is in Australia!

8 match ban? They should make him spend the time playing 8 Aussie Rules games, see how long he lasts...