Macarthur Captain Facing Lengthy Suspension Following MRP’s Review of Disciplinary Notice

Macarthur Bulls skipper Valère Germain has received a two-match suspension from Football Australia’s independent Match Review Panel (MRP) following an incident during last week’s draw against Western United.

The MRP convened on Monday to examine a situation involving Germain that occurred during the stoppage time in Macarthur’s 2-2 stalemate with Western United on Sunday.

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The MRP served Germain with a Disciplinary Notice to show cause, exercising its authority to recognise Citation Incidents, including those involving a player which, in the Panel’s view based on Law 12 of the Laws of the Game, warranted a direct red card but were overlooked by the match referee.

Upon concluding that Germain had engaged in “Use of offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures against a Match Official”, the MRP provided the Disciplinary Cause and reconvened on Tuesday to consider representations made on behalf of the French forward regarding the Disciplinary Notice.

After reviewing Germain’s submission, the MRP ruled that the incident had indeed gone unnoticed by the referee and confirmed the offence. They proposed a two-match suspension, consisting of the mandatory one-game ban along with an additional match.

Germain has informed Football Australia of his intention to appeal the decision to the independent Disciplinary and Ethics Committee concerning the appropriate sanction above the standard one-match suspension.

The forward will serve the minimum one-game suspension this weekend, which means he will miss Macarthur’s upcoming match against Western Sydney Wanderers at CommBank Stadium, as he awaits the scheduled hearing by the Disciplinary and Ethics Committee in the days ahead.