The criminal charge arises out of an alleged incident that took place in Ryall's hometown of Sydney in late January 2008. At the time the player was 18 years old and living in St Kilda, playing for Melbourne Victory.

Ryall, now 19, was charged by police last August, and he is expected to face Downing Centre Local Court on October 22. According to NSW Police, the matter has already been before the court "numerous" times.

"In August last year, detectives from Chatswood charged a man with having sexual intercourse with a child aged between 10 and 14," said a police spokesman tonight.

"The charge relates to an incident which is alleged to have occurred in January 2008 in Mona Vale involving a girl who was then aged 13."

The police spokesman stressed the charge related to sexual intercourse, and not sexual assault.

As far as the FFA knows, Melbourne Victory were not aware of the charges when they released the player for Sydney to sign later that year and the matter only came to the attention of FFA and his current club on April 23, 2009.

Football Federation Australia today revealed it had imposed the sanction on the defender for a breach of the FFA National Code of Conduct.

Ryall was scheduled to leave tomorrow morning with the Australian under-20 team for a Young Socceroos camp in the Netherlands but will now not be travelling with the squad.

The sanction follows a finding that under clause 2.1 of the Code of Conduct the player has brought the game into disrepute through being charged with a criminal offence.

The sanction imposed is suspension from participation in football matches in Australia (including the A-League) until 3 September 2009, and ineligibility to participate in national team duty until the criminal case has been determined or 3 September 2009 (whichever is the later).

The FFA added that Sydney FC had been included in the consultations about the penalty and agreed with it. The ban may be extended depending on the legal outcome to the case.

A statement from the FFA today said it had initiated its Code of Conduct process which involved providing the player with the opportunity to make submissions to FFA on the alleged Code of Conduct breach.

"FFA considered those submissions in reaching its determination which was communicated to the player today," the statement read by Ben Buckley added.

 "The player, through his legal representatives, has cooperated fully with the FFA process."

Buckley added: "The sanction is not imposed on the basis that the player is guilty of the charge that he faces. FFA has not formed a view of the player's guilt or innocence of the charge as this is a matter for the courts.

"The sanction is imposed simply on the basis that the bringing of the criminal charge against him has brought the game of football into disrepute."

The player has pleaded not guilty to the criminal charge and his lawyer has indicated his client intends to strenuously defend his innocence.

As a result of the sanction, the player is not eligible to participate in national team duty and he will not be travelling with the Under 20 squad which is due to depart soon for an overseas tour.

Sydney FC this afternoon said they had no knowledge of the incident when they signed the player on November 20, 2008 and only became aware of the matter when recently informed by FFA.

A statement added: "Sydney Football Club, which has its own Code of Conduct, demands that only the very highest standard of behaviour is acceptable from all of its employees.

"This has been acknowledged by all of the Club's players, coaches and staff.

"Once the proceedings before the courts have been finally determined, the club will then make a formal statement."

The player has seven days in which to appeal FFA's determination to the independent FFA Disciplinary Committee if he chooses to do so. A subsequent appeal may also be made to the independent FFA Appeals Committee.