MELBOURNE Victory captain Kevin Muscat says he won't back down from confronting match officials despite his narrow escape from suspension following his clash with an assistant referee last weekend.
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The Victory skipper, who has a long history of controversial on-field incidents, has been a model of restraint this season but was enraged by several decisions that went against his team during last week's shock 3-1 loss to Perth Glory.
But as Muscat was arguing with the referee while walking off at half-time, after querying several decisions which he is allowed to do under FFA rules through his role as captain, an assistant referee appeared to try and push the Victory skipper down the tunnel.
Muscat responded by pushing the assistant referee's hand away but FFA's match review panel chose to take no action against the Victory skipper given that the referee saw the incident on the day and chose to take no action.
The 35-year-old veteran said on Wednesday he had not been concerned about the prospect of a suspension over an incident which he believed was blown out of proportion.
"I suppose there has been a few times in my career when I have probably sat there and been worried (about getting suspended) but I wasn't too concerned over this one," he said.
"You blokes (the media) ran with it for a couple of days - there must not have been too much happening this week - but I was glad with the outcome and the way it was dealt with."
Muscat maintains he did nothing wrong and would have no hesitation again confronting match officials if he felt his team wasn't getting a fair go.
"I was just having a conversation with the referee and I will show him respect by saying that it stays between us."
"(But) if I feel the need to speak to the referee again (in future matches) I will do it."
Melbourne Victory coach Ernie Merrick also backed his skipper saying the club had already moved on from the incident.
"We never expected anything different," he said when asked on Wednesday if he was relieved that his skipper avoided a suspension.
"When Kevin's involved it is always a good story but Kevin did nothing wrong - it's all over and we move on."
To see today's training session...

The Victory skipper, who has a long history of controversial on-field incidents, has been a model of restraint this season but was enraged by several decisions that went against his team during last week's shock 3-1 loss to Perth Glory.
But as Muscat was arguing with the referee while walking off at half-time, after querying several decisions which he is allowed to do under FFA rules through his role as captain, an assistant referee appeared to try and push the Victory skipper down the tunnel.
Muscat responded by pushing the assistant referee's hand away but FFA's match review panel chose to take no action against the Victory skipper given that the referee saw the incident on the day and chose to take no action.
The 35-year-old veteran said on Wednesday he had not been concerned about the prospect of a suspension over an incident which he believed was blown out of proportion.
"I suppose there has been a few times in my career when I have probably sat there and been worried (about getting suspended) but I wasn't too concerned over this one," he said.
"You blokes (the media) ran with it for a couple of days - there must not have been too much happening this week - but I was glad with the outcome and the way it was dealt with."
Muscat maintains he did nothing wrong and would have no hesitation again confronting match officials if he felt his team wasn't getting a fair go.
"I was just having a conversation with the referee and I will show him respect by saying that it stays between us."
"(But) if I feel the need to speak to the referee again (in future matches) I will do it."
Melbourne Victory coach Ernie Merrick also backed his skipper saying the club had already moved on from the incident.
"We never expected anything different," he said when asked on Wednesday if he was relieved that his skipper avoided a suspension.
"When Kevin's involved it is always a good story but Kevin did nothing wrong - it's all over and we move on."
To see today's training session...

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