Roar star suspended
August 16, 2007 QUEENSLAND Roar have suffered a blow ahead of next weekend's A-League kick-off with key midfielder Hyuk-So Seo suspended for two matches.
Seo was sent off in last weekend's Pre-Season Cup third place playoff win over the Central Coast Mariners after an incident with Mariners forward Nik Mrdja.
The 33-year-old South Korean was last night handed a two-match ban for his role in the confrontation, for which Mrdja was shown a yellow card.
Along with the mandatory one-week suspension for the red card, Seo was handed an additional minimum one-week ban for violent conduct.
Roar management are fuming over the decision, believing Seo was provoked in the 76th minute clash, but will not appeal the decision.
"Despite the fact that he was wound up and wound up and provoked, at the end of the day he has retaliated and you can't defend that," a Roar spokesman said.
Fellow midfielder Mitch Nichols will also be unavailable for the Roar's round one match against Adelaide United at Suncorp Stadium on August 25, after receiving a one-match ban following his red card in the first half against the Mariners.
Adding to the disruption is a four-day trip home by Brazilian recruit Marcinho from Saturday.
Roar officials said they have known about the trip for some time, describing it as a move to "finalise some personal matters".
The 25-year-old attacking midfielder will return to the club just two days before the Adelaide United match.
The Roar have their final pre-season hit-out against the Solomon Islands at their Richlands base in Brisbane's south tomorrow night.
AAP
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,22254756-23215,00.html
