One-match ban for Greer's head-butt
EASTERN winger Ross Greer has escaped the wrath of the Hongkong Football Association after being leniently penalised for his infamous head-butt on South China defender George Haniotis in the final of last month's Camelpaint Challenge Shield.
The disciplinary committee last night banned Greer for just one match for the incident, which was seen by a capacity crowd of 8,500 at the Mongkok Stadium and was televised live.
Greer, who scored Eastern's fourth goal in a 4-0 rout of South China which gave his team their first trophy in six years, was sent off for the head-butt, which left the South China defender with a broken nose.
Haniotis was stunned by the verdict, saying that justice had not been done.
He said: ''I'm very surprised that he has been given a one-match ban. He broke my nose and he deserves more than a one-match ban.
''It's not the fact that he broke my nose that I'm annoyed about but the fact that it was an unfair decision. If the HKFA do not stand against violence, what do they stand for? ''In the Australian league, an offence like that would normally be a minimum of six matches.'' Disciplinary committee chairman Yau Shue-pui of Third Division team Kowloon Fruit accepted the fact that Greer had been provoked by Haniotis.
Greer will miss Eastern's League match against Kitchee next Tuesday and is expected to be replaced by Cheung Kam-wah.
Eastern team manager Peter Leung was satisfied with the verdict, saying the disciplinary committee had made the right decision.
Eastern currently lead the standings by one point from Michelotti who have played two matches more.
Michelotti have a chance to take over the number one spot when they play Instant-Dict at Mongkok Stadium tonight.
A win will put improving Michelotti two points ahead of Eastern, who will then have three games in hand.
Michelotti team manager Sammy Yu is confident his squad can continue their good form.
''We have been playing very well and we seem to be improving all the time. Instant-Dict are not in top form at the moment. It would be nice to go on top of the standings,'' said Yu.
Midfielder Steve Berry has rejoined Instant-Dict from German Second Division side SV Darmstadt and will be arriving over the weekend. Outgoing Instant-Dict striker Robert Hopkins will be on the bench for tonight's game.
