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.