What had started originally as a 15 month ban, then reduced to 9 months on appeal and would have cost Central Coast Mariner and Australian Olympic keeper Danny Vukovic was reduced to only a six month ban by an independent committee that was today accepted by the Football Federation Australia.  Vukovic was also fined $10,000 Australian ($9,490 US).

Vukovic was originally given the suspension after receiving a straight red card for “High Five-ing” referee Mark Shields in the final moments of the Mariners 1-nil loss to Newcastle in the A-League Final in February.  Vukovic lost his head in a moment after Shields missed Newcastle midfielder James Holland’s handball in the box in extra time which could have allowed Central Coast to even up the match.

Throughout the 14 matches needed for Australia to qualify for the 2008 Olympics, Vukovic had been between the posts for every minute.