Tensions between Papadopoulos and Sydney FC striker Matt Simon built throughout Saturday night’s clash at Allianz Stadium and finally erupted in the 76th minute.

Video replays showed Papadopoulos spat at the Sky Blues frontman, who fired up before retaliating with a shove to the ground. Simon was seen wiping the side of his face with his shirt.

Both players were issued straight reds.

In the case of Papadopoulos the Match Review Panel (MRP) said the incident had been referred to the committee regarding “what sanction should apply over and above the mandatory (one) match suspension”.

The hearing date will be confirmed shortly.

The MRP had a busy time of it with five players issued straight reds in a fiery round of A-League action.

Simon, Melbourne Victory’s Mark Milligan, Melbourne City’s Osama Malik, and Adelaide United’s Ben Garuccio  will all serve the minimum one match ban.

History suggests, however, that Papadopoulos could be sidelined for an extended period. Victory player Ney Fabiano was hit with a nine match ban, reduced to six, for a spitting incident in 2008.

A lengthy ban would be another blow for Roar who are currently sitting second from the bottom on the A-League ladder with just six points from eight matches.

It has been a dramatic fall from grace for the 32-year-old who only last week was lauded for his brace in Roar's 3-1 defeat of Melbourne City.