Central Coast Mariners plan to appeal the decision by FIFA to ban Danny Vukovic from the Olympics, believing the world governing body 'exceeded their power in ruling as they have'.
The 23-year-old goalkeeper was initially banned for 14 months by Football Federation Australia for slapping the arm of referee Mark Shield during the A-League Grand Final in February, which Central Coast lost 1-0, but the penalty was later altered on appeal.
In April, an Independent Appeals Committee decided to suspend Vukovic from all games up to June 24, 2008 and then from all matches between August 29 to October 6, while a suspended sentence was imposed for a further six months after that date.
That allowed Vukovic a window to join up with the Olyroos in Beijing, but FIFA have now acted against the interrupted suspension, which they say is contrary to the spirit of their regulations.
However, the Mariners announced plans to appeal that decision on Thursday.
'We have carefully considered the FIFA decision and we have respect for the process and for FIFA's role in this situation,' said Mariners executive chairman Lyall Gorman.
'However, FIFA's powers are confined by a detailed series or rules and regulations and in this case we consider that FIFA exceeded their power in ruling as they have.
'It is important to note that this stage of the appeal is not about the incident that occurred at the Hyundai A-League Grand Final. It is a narrow and discrete legal issue as to whether, according to the powers given to FIFA by their relevant rules and regulations, they have the power to do what they have purported to do.
'This decision to appeal has been taken carefully. The Mariners consider that it is in the best interests of our player and we are entirely comfortable that this is an entirely appropriate action to take, and that the appeal has merit.
'We have great respect for the process, as we have throughout this whole ordeal, and the club won't be making further comment until that appeal process runs its course.
'As this is now purely a legal argument, we also ask that media respect Danny's privacy, he having been on a rollercoaster of emotions as you would appreciate.'
