Geria ban reduced in Victory boost for ALM finals

Melbourne Victory's veteran defender Jason Geria will play in the A-League Men elimination final after having his suspension reduced on appeal.

JASON GERIA.
JASON GERIA. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Melbourne Victory defender Jason Geria's suspension has been reduced and he'll play in the A-League Men elimination final against Melbourne City.

Geria received a straight red card for a studs-up tackle on Brisbane Roar's Corey Brown on April 20.

The influential defender was banned for two matches by the match review panel - an automatic one-game suspension for the red card plus "one additional match".

Geria sat out Saturday's 4-3 loss to Western Sydney while appealing to Football Australia's disciplinary and ethics committee.

The three-person panel reduced the ban by one match, freeing him for Sunday's grudge match against City.

"In determining the sanction, the committee is empowered to consider a range of factors including a player's remorse and disciplinary record, considerations not available to the MRP," the committee said in a statement.

"As Geria had already served the mandatory match suspension ... he is now eligible to participate in (the elimination final)."

The third-placed Victory earn nominal home rights against City, who with a last-round win clinched sixth spot to set up their first Melbourne derby in a final in nine years.