Canberra United are set to be reinstated with their win over Sydney FC last month upon appeal after Football Australia (FA) ruled to overturn the Australian Professional Leagues’ (APL) decision to strip the Liberty A-League side three points following a breach of competition regulations.
Finals-chasing Canberra were deducted three points after they were deemed to have breached regulations by fielding an ineligible player in their 2-1 win over reigning premiers Sydney on February 11.
The APL found Canberra utilised an unauthorised additional substitution in relation to the club’s upset of the Sky Blues at McKellar Park last month, with Sydney awarded a 3-0 victory.
After appealing the sanction, FA’s Independent Disciplinary & Ethics Committee ruled in favour of Canberra, “ordering that the APL determination to impose a forfeit and loss of competition points on the club to be set aside, and that the original result of the match be reinstated”.
The APL can appeal the determination of the Committee to Football Australia’s independent Appeals Committee within seven days of receiving the written determination.
Canberra’s reinstated win would move them within two points of fourth-placed Melbourne Victory, who occupy the final finals place heading into the remaining two regular-season rounds.
At the top of the table, Sydney’s original loss to Canberra would leave them five points adrift of league-leading Western United with two matchdays to play.
