The independent Match Review Panel (MRP) – consisting of Simon Micallef (Chair), Alan Davidson and Adam D’Apuzzo – convened today to consider an incident involving Brendon Santalab of Western Sydney Wanderers FC (the Player) in or around the 90th minute of Western Sydney Wanderers FC’s Round 12 match against Brisbane Roar FC on Friday, 23 December 2016.

The MRP has the authority to consider the incident as the Player was expelled from the match by the Referee.

The MRP determined that the Player committed the offence of “Assault on a player (e.g. violent conduct when not challenging for the ball) including an attempted Assault on a Player”. The MRP has proposed a sanction of two (2) matches, being the Minimum Sanction for the offence.

Under the Hyundai A-League Disciplinary Regulations, the Player may refer the matter to the independent Disciplinary and Ethics Committee for hearing and determination of the sole question of whether Exceptional Circumstances apply and therefore a sanction outside the Range of the Table of Offences should be imposed, provided always that the Mandatory Match Suspension must be served. The Player has until 12:00pm (AEDT) on Wednesday, 28 December 2016 to advise whether he wishes to appeal the two (2) match sanction proposed by the MRP.

In addition, prior to the Player being expelled from the match by the Referee, he received a yellow card in or around the 66th minute. This yellow card triggered a one (1) match Mandatory Match Suspension for the Player as a result of the Player accumulating five (5) yellow cards during the Season. The Player must serve this sanction in addition to the sanction proposed by the MRP.