Central Coast Mariners striker Roy O’Donovan has been banned for eight weeks for headbutting Wellington Phoenix defender Manny Muscat in a recent A-League game.
The 30-year-old Cork native was reacting to an elbow from Muscat, who has received a two week suspension.
Speaking after the incident, O’Donovan apologised for his actions but also had a pop at Muscat for his part.
I’ve got elbowed in the face not once, not twice, and the referee hasn’t seen fit to react to that and book Manny Muscat. I walked away and had a player run into my direction, I leaned my head in and I’ve reacted to it.
He’s gone down like a movie star there. He should get an Oscar for that. He timed it perfectly.
O’Donovan will now be unavailable for the Mariners, who sit bottom of the A-League table, until the home game against Melbourne Victory on March 6.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvZ9wZlnIHw