The goalkeeper spoke to the media this morning as he tried to digest a ruling that has slammed shut the door to Beijing.

He said: "Pretty upset. I don't think it's hit me quite fully yet. I think when the boys are over there playing the games that's when I'll probably feel it the most. But yeah, very disappointed.

"I could quite easily could have stayed at home and moped aboout but it's good to come out with the boys and be with my teammates and try and enjoy myself."

FIFA has refused to allow Vukovic to serve his grand final suspension in two parts despite an independent panel allowing him to play for the Olyroos in China.

Vukovic said: "It's a rollercoaster of emotions. Firstly it was taken away then (we) worked so hard with the help of everyone at the Mariners.

"A lot of time and effort was put into the appeal. It was a positive outcome for us and then to have it taken away is probably the hardest part of it all."

Vukovic just wants to put the whole episode behind him but cannot understand why his hopes were allowed to be raised and then dashed at the last moment by FIFA's intervention.

He said: "If Fifa would have come to the party three months ago when this all started rather than getting my hopes up, rather than the Mariners spending so much money on legal costs and things like that.

"It seems the smart thing but obviously it's happened this way and it's happened for a reason. I can't really complain now. What's done is done and I need to move on.

"At the end of the day I made a massive mistake and I got punished the way I did. If I hadn't done what I did then I'd be going to the Olympic Games.

"I just need to learn from it and I'm looking forward to putting this all behind me. I thought it was behind me but it sort of popped up again. But it's get on with life now and football and move on."

Club chairman told sections of today's media that the club would examine the legal options open after FIFA's ruling. Football Federation Australia has already said it will not be appealing.