Foschini was set off after just 37 minutes with a straight red for a dangerous tackle after he lurched into a challenge on Brisbane Roar playmaker Thomas Broich with his studs up.

Victory today asked for the red card to be struck off - but instead the FFA reacted strongly and added an extra week to the mandatory one week ban for a total of two weeks.

The FFA's match review panel found the dismissal was justified and Victory's attempts to overturn it on the grounds of an obvious error were ruled to be "frivolous".

This evening Victory hit back at the surprise decision and issued a statement to "voice its dissatisfaction", and called fgor an overhaul of the FFA referee system.

"It is the club's belief that the challenge in question should have been viewed as a mistimed tackle and that the correct decision should have been a caution under the FFA’s own table of sanctions," said the statement.

Melbourne Victory Managing Director Richard Wilson added: “We are extremely disappointed with the outcome, as we undertook the process of attempting to clear Matthew Foschini’s name.

“We believe this is yet another example of the inconsistency in refereeing decisions being made across the Hyundai A-League, and this should act as a catalyst for the FFA reviewing the standard of its match officials.”

Goalkeeper Ante Covic was also suspended for the mandatory one match minimum for his dismissal just two minutes into the game for bringing down Roar striker Besart Berisha in the box.

Victory said they accepted the Covic decision.