The FFA’s independent appeals committee will meet in Sydney to assess whether the goalkeeper’s lengthy suspension should stand, be reduced or overturned.

This is the last route open under the governing body’s appeals procedure but that’s not to say this will be the end of the matter.

Vukovic earned a 15 month ban after striking the hand of referee Mark Shield in last season’s A-League grand final with a subsequent appeal failing to put any real dent in the punishment imposed.

As it stands, the Olyroos keeper will be out of domestic action until the end of November but if the appeals process fails then he will also be ruled out of the Beijing Olympics.

Both the goalkeeper and his club have accepted his actions were unacceptable and that some punishment is inevitable but the Gosford outfit do not think it is fair his Olympic flame should be extinguished.

Mariners executive chairman Lyall Gorman has said that the club will not put timescales or limitations on pursuing what they feel is just and worthy.

A trip to the Court of Arbitration for Sport has not been ruled out if the Mariners do not feel justice has been done.

Similar overseas incidents involving referees and players have seen much lighter suspensions handed out by football associations.

Gorman told au.fourfourtwo.com recently: “What we believe we have here are valid grounds for appeal and we feel very strongly about pursuing this.

“I’m not ruling anything out at this point. We will go into this next appeal having sought yet another (legal) opinion and as I said, we think we have valid grounds for continuing this (fight).”

Mariners coach Lawrie McKinna has admitted the goalkeeping situation is high on the club’s agenda with back up keeper Matt Trott currently injured. His only other custodian is Qantas Under 20 youngster Andrew Redmayne.