Victory midfielder banned for two matches for ‘assault on a player’ against City

Melbourne Victory will be without Zinédine Machach for its two-leg semifinal with Wellington Phoenix, after the midfielder was handed a two-match ban following a straight red card.

Machach was marched from the field in the 38th minute of Victory’s penalty shootout win over rivals Melbourne City, when he lashed out his foot towards City winger Leo Natel who was on the ground.

The A-League Match Review Panel on Monday declared Machach’s offence to be, “Assault on a player (e.g. violent conduct when not challenging for the ball) or against any other person other than a Match Official, including an attempted assault”.

His two-match ban rules him out of both legs of the semifinal with Wellington.

Machach can refer the matter to the independent Disciplinary and Ethics Committee, but must advise Football Australia he wants to do that by 2pm (AEST) on Tuesday.

Central Coast Mariners, fresh off their AFC Cup triumph, face Sydney FC in the other two-leg semifinal.