Sydney FC’s appeal to Football Australia’s independent Disciplinary & Ethics Committee to challenge the two-match suspension Max Burgess received, following his red card against Melbourne Victory has been unsuccessful.
The appeal centred around whether Exceptional Circumstances applied in the challenge involving Burgess and Melbourne Victory winger Bruce Kamau.
After a long hearing in Sydney this evening in which Burgess was present, the Committee determined that Exceptional Circumstances were not met.
“Naturally we are disappointed,” said Sydney FC Chief Executive Officer Adam Santo.
“We believed we had an extremely strong case and we did all that we could to put forward a very compelling argument as to why Max’s sanction should be reviewed.
“Unfortunately the Committee have made their decision this evening which is disappointing for Max, but we will move on and will use it as motivation heading into Saturday’s huge Sydney Derby.”
Sydney FC will not appeal the Committee’s decision.
Burgess will serve the second of his two match suspension in Saturday’s third encounter of the season between the Sky Blues and Western Sydney Wanderers Allianz Stadium.
Both teams have won one game each and sit only four points apart in the Isuzu-UTE A-League Finals Series.
