The Irishman received a straight red early in the game after his raised arm made contact with City’s Michael Jakobsen in what coach Paul Okon described as a yellow at best.

On Monday the Match Review Panel imposed the minimum sanction for ‘serious foul play’, adjudging the striker was challenging for the ball.

But having lost O’Donovan for the bulk of Thursday's 2-1 loss in Melbourne, the league laggers will now be without their top goal scorer for Saturday’s crucial home fixture against a resurgent Perth Glory.

“Whilst we accept the decision and understand the process, this hurts as a double whammy,” Mariners’ CEO Shaun Mielekamp said.

“Not only did Roy miss out on 70 minutes against City but he now also misses an additional match.”

The Mariners declined to follow the lead of Melbourne Victory, who appealed Besart Berisha’s recent red card and had it successfully overturned.

Mielekamp added: “The MRP did what they could within the regulations they have before them and as a club we could not risk the possibility of missing Roy for an additional week if we put in an appeal for an obvious error that has such a high threshold.

“To ensure better consistency there should be parameters or avenues that protect the player and the club from being dealt a double blow.”