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Vukovic's Olympic dream alive

23 April 2008 | 19:10 - SBS

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Central Coast Mariners goalkeeper Danny Vukovic will be eligible to play at the Beijing Olympics after an independent appeals committee amended his sentence for striking referee Mark Shield in the A-League Grand Final.

The appeals committee decided that Australia's first-choice custodian at Under 23 level will be suspended from all games up to 24 June 2008 and from all games from 29 August - 5 October 2008 inclusive.

 

A $10,00 fine to be paid to the FFA was also imposed on Vukovic with a further part of the sentence suspended from 6 October, 2008 through to 25 January, 2009.

Vukovic, who was initially banned for 15 months (of which six months was suspended) had his sentence reduced to 12 months (with three months suspended) last month by the independent Disciplinary Committee.

Importantly for Vukovic and Olyroos boss Graham Arnold is that the sentence will be served in two parts - one effective through to June 28 and another from August 29 to October 5.

In effect it becomes a tailor-made suspension so Vukovic is eligible to play at the 2008 Olympic Games during August.

The ban rules Vukovic out for the first seven rounds of the 2008/09 A-League campaign.

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