Macarthur FC captain Valere Germain to fight severity of suspension for offensive gesture

An A-League star will fight the length of ban for an offensive gesture that a judiciary ruled was made towards a referee.

Macarthur FC skipper Valere Germain will fight to have a two-game ban for the use of an offensive gesture reduced.
Germain made the gesture in stoppage-time of his side’s 2-2 weekend draw with Western United at Campbelltown Sports Stadium.

Football Australia’s independent match review panel deemed the gesture was made towards referee Casey Reibelt – who missed the incident – and banned the French striker for two matches for the use of “offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures against a match official”.

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However, it’s understood that Germain claimed he was making the gesture towards a friend in the crowd in a joking manner.

Germain has referred the matter to FA’s independent disciplinary and ethics committee in a bid to have the ban reduced to the minimum one-game ban.

The appeal is expected to be heard this week, but regardless of the outcome, the 34-year-old will miss Macarthur’s clash against Western Sydney Wanderers on Sunday at CommBank Stadium through suspension.

Originally published as Macarthur FC captain Valere Germain to fight severity of suspension for offensive gesture