Victory had little to lose from risking an extended ban for Mrdja. He currently faces missing the second leg against Sydney - and if Melbourne win, the Grand Final a fortnight later.

However, if Victory lose the second leg of the major semi final against Sydney, Mrdja is gambling a possible place in the Grand Final by the appeal.

The appeals commitee could uphold his appeal and overturn the ban, freeing him to play in the remaining finals games.

But it could also choose to uphold his ban and even extend it. The ban does not affect his place in the ACL squad.

However that may only affect him next season - AFTER he's rejoined his former club Central Coast Mariners who let  him join Victory for the finals and Asian Champions League tilt, but re-signed him for next season as they simultaneously tore up his exising cntract with them.

A statement today said: "Melbourne Victory referred the independent Match Review Panel proposed sanction of two matches for Nik Mrdja, following an incident in or around the 74th minute of its match against Sydney FC at Etihad Stadium last Thursday, to a hearing by the FFA Disciplinary Committee."

The club refused to comment further.