FC Volendam has been told today that the suspension of Gaetano Oristanio will largely be maintained. The Eredivisionist wanted an acquittal for the Italian, but was only able to achieve a small reduction in his sentence.
In response to Oristanio’s red card against AZ (1-1) on Saturday, February 4, the disciplinary committee had proposed a five-match suspension, one of which was conditional. FC Volendam did not agree with the proposal and appealed.
Unconditionally
Yesterday the case was heard at the KNVB Campus in Zeist and today the committee ruled. Oristanio’s sentence largely stands. The 20-year-old attacker is now unconditionally suspended for four games.
Because Oristanio has already sat out one of the four matches, namely the away match against FC Twente (3-0), he will be suspended for three more matches. As a result, he misses the home games against FC Emmen and Fortuna Sittard and the away game in De Kuip against Feyenoord.
Official statement independent professional football appeals committee
On the basis of the evidence, the appeals committee rules that Oristanio entered into the duel in such a way that the safety of his opponent was endangered. This is considered serious foul play. The appeals committee also considers it proven that Oristanio spat at – in the direction of – the referee. However, the distance between the player and the referee was so great that it was impossible to spit on the referee, in the sense that the referee could be hit. However, the appeals committee considers spitting at the referee as an insulting gesture, out of dissatisfaction with the red card shown to Oristanio by the referee.