STAR Melbourne Victory striker Besart Berisha could be suspended for his push on a fourth official after the incident was referred to the tribunal.
Football Federation Australia’s Match Review Panel has referred the Berisha incident to the Disciplinary and Ethics Committee after he made contact with fourth official Daniel Elder.
The incident has drawn the ire of Victory coach Kevin Muscat, who declared that Berisha was provoked by Elder after he initiated the contact following a heated duel with Adelaide defender Jordan Elsey.
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The most similar case occurred last November when then Adelaide coach Guillermo Amor was banned for two matches for allegedly touching fourth official Adam Fielding away to Perth Glory.
Contrary to the Berisha incident which was caught by Fox Sports cameras, there was no video evidence of the Amor incident. Berisha was issued a yellow card by referee Shaun Evans after the incident.
Victory is likely to argue that Elder initiated contact when the Berisha case is heard this week.
“The MRP has determined that, on the basis of the evidence reviewed, Berisha has a case to answer whether he committed the offence of “Unsporting conduct toward a match official” (Offence),’’ the FFA statement said.
“The MRP has issued a Disciplinary Notice to Berisha and referred the incident to the Disciplinary and Ethics Committee for hearing as to whether the Offence has been committed, and if so, what sanction should be imposed.’’
The incident, which occurred in first half stoppage time saw Elder focus his attentions on Berisha after breaking up a minor scuffle.
“I’m under no illusion they’ll review the whole situation and it’s disappointing. I’m not coming away from it all because it’ll get reviewed and we’ll deal with it as we have to deal with it,’’ Muscat told SEN.
“I’ve seen players get other players sent off and sanctioned before, I’ve seen players implode and do it to themselves.
“But I’ve never seen an official to provoke a player to get reviewed and be in this situation he’s in. It was scandalous what happened with the fourth official.
“It was a foul and as they’re getting up the fourth official got himself involved and pursued Bes four or five yards onto the pitch with his hand in his back nudging him away from the situation where he didn’t do that to the opposition player.
“Bes reacted and brushed him if you like so there was contact but he was provoked and pursued onto the pitch by the fourth official.
“Bes’s situation will be reviewed but I want to now what’s going to happen to the officials? They’ve got to be accountable too, lets stop walking on eggshells here.’’
Victory have claimed just one point from games and travels to Central Coast on Sunday.
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