8 Dec 2010

Phoenix coach banned for three matches

6:31 am on 8 December 2010

The Wellington Phoenix are appealing the three-match touchline ban for coach Ricki Herbert.

Herbert was sent off by the referee Peter O'Leary towards the end of last Sunday's dramatic win over Adelaide United in Christchurch, after arguing with him about the positioning of a free-kick late in the match, just before his defender Ben Sigmund netted a stoppage-time winner.

The appeal will be heard on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Adelaide United will have their skipper Travis Dodd for their next match against North Queensland Fury on Friday night after his red card from Sunday's Phoenix match was thrown out.

Dodd was sent off for kicking the Phoenix midfielder Vince Lia in what clearly looked an accident, and the panel members found the decision to be an "obvious error" .

It was the first time Dodd had been sent off in more than 100 A-League matches.