Macarthur FC assistant coach cops six-game suspension for ‘assault on a player’

Football Australia’s independent disciplinary and ethics committee has come down hard on an A-League assistant coach following his involvement in a post-match melee.

A member of an A-League club’s coaching staff has been banned for six games for “assaulting” a player from a rival team.

Macarthur FC assistant coach Christophe Gamel won’t return to the Bulls’ bench until late next month after Football Australia’s independent disciplinary and ethics committee upped his original suspension of two matches by a further four games following an incident soon after the final whistle of his club’s 2-1 loss to Newcastle on October 25.

Gamel’s action of shoving Jets goalkeeper Ryan Scott in a post-match melee resulted in him being shown a red card by referee Tim Danaskos.

After being reviewed by the match review panel, the incident was referred to the committee, which determined that Gamel had committed the offence of “assault on a player, team official, spectator or any other person other than a match official”, leading to a mandatory two-match ban.

.@gomvfc sit top of the pile after the opening month of season 24/25! 🔵🔥

How are you feeling with where your team sits heading into the international break? 🤔@eToroAUpic.twitter.com/iLWuDoBvUf

— Isuzu UTE A-League (@aleaguemen) November 10, 2024

Upon further review of the incident, it was announced on Tuesday night that Gamel’s suspension would be increased to six games.

With two matches having already been served, Gamel can return to the bench for the Bulls’ December 23 games against the Mariners.

That length of time also takes into account that no A-League matches are being played this weekend due to the FIFA international break.

Bulls chief executive officer Sam Krslovic said the club would not appeal the decision despite believing the ban was “excessive”.

However, Krslovic said FA and the A-League had to “enforce” the rule that no coaches or club officials should enter the field of play during a game or while players were leaving the field.

“If that’s the view, then it needs to be enforced consistently across every game,” he said.

Krslovic also thanked the independent disciplinary and ethics committee for a “fair hearing”, but also called for a review of the an MRP system that led to the incident being sent to the committee rather than being dealt with immediately.

Originally published as Macarthur FC assistant coach cops six-game suspension for ‘assault on a player’