Tiatto connected his left fist with Dodd in a tussle for the ball in Sunday night's game against Adelaide.

He was involved in another ruck with Dodd as he left the field and copped a fine for bringing the game into disrepute.

He was tipped to miss the rest of the finals series but he will now be available to play in the preliminary final if Roar can get past Sydney.

The midfielder today apologised to his Queensland Roar team-mates and the club’s supporters following the red card incident.

A repentant Tiatto said as one of the most experienced players in the squad he knows he should have set a better example.

“I’d like to apologise to everyone involved at Queensland Roar FC, my team-mates, the coaches and of course the supporters, for the way I reacted in the game against Adelaide United on Sunday,” Tiatto said.

“I’m naturally disappointed and upset that I lost my cool and reacted the way I did in the heat of the moment.

"As an experienced professional I fully understand what is expected of me and I definitely should not have put myself in that situation."

He added: “I let the rest of the boys down and made the game even more difficult than it already was. It goes without saying that I deeply regret what happened.”

The midfielder was today handed a two-match ban by Football Federation Australia and will miss both legs of the semi-final against Sydney FC.

Queensland were also fined for taking the wrong kit to the Reds game which caused confusion for TV viewers with the clash of strips. Roar played in their home orange and maroon strip instead of the white-based away kit.

But some of Roar's fine has been suspended until the end of the finals series and will only be enforced if they repeat the mistake.

An FFA statement said: "The Hyundai A-League match review panel has today confirmed that Queensland Roar player Danny Tiatto will receive an additional one match suspension to the mandatory one match suspension he received for being issued a red card for violent conduct in the 41st minute of the Round 21 Hyundai A-League 2007/08 fixture between Adelaide United and Queensland Roar at Hindmarsh stadium on Sunday 20 January 2008.

"In addition, Tiatto has also been fined an undisclosed amount for breaching the code of conduct (bringing the Hyundai A-League into disrepute) as he left the field of play, when he pushed Adelaide United Player Travis Dodd."

It added: "Tiatto will be ineligible for the Queensland Roar's Hyundai A-League 2008 Minor Semi-Final fixtures on Friday 25 January and Friday 8 February 2008, but will be eligible for selection in the Hyundai A-League 2008 Preliminary Final should Queensland Roar progress through.

"Queensland Roar has also been fined for non-adherence to the Playing Strip Allocations as directed by Football Federation Australia (FFA). A portion of the fine has been suspended until the conclusion of the Hyundai A-League 2008 Finals Series and will be activated should any breach of the Playing strip requirements occur up to that point, in addition to any further sanctions deemed applicable by FFA."