Rogic banned for three matches

Central Coast Mariners star Tom Rogic has been handed a three-match ban for his reckless challenge on Sydney defender Rhyan Grant.

Rogic was shown a straight red card by referee Peter Green late in Central Coast’s 1-0 loss to the Sky Blues on Thursday after a crude slide tackle.

The red card was the first of Rogic’s A-League career and came on the back of building frustration during the encounter at the Sydney Football Stadium.

The Match Review Panel opted to add two matches to the mandatory one-match suspension on Saturday.

“The MRP has proposed a sanction of three matches, being the one mandatory match suspension plus an additional sanction of two matches,” a statement said.

The additional two matches is a blow to the league-leading Mariners, who face Perth Glory at home on Monday.

Rogic will also miss crucial clashes against the Western Sydney Wanderers and Melbourne Victory before being available for the F3 derby meeting with the Newcastle Jets on January 19.

Rogic has yet to apologise for the cruel lunge on Grant, the 21-year-old told News Limited on Sunday.

“It wasn’t a great tackle and it doesn’t look great on the replay,” Grant said.

“It got me, but if you look at the replay it could have been worse. If he caught me on my shin it could have broken my leg. I think he was a little bit frustrated and lashed out.

“I probably would have (apologised) but I’ve made a fair few tackles in my day and not said sorry, so it’s a tough one. It’s left a few stud marks down my shin and it’s scabbed up a bit.”