Football Australia has launched a formal investigation into a serious allegation of racial abuse during a heated A-League Men match in Melbourne. The governing body will examine claims that Brisbane Roar striker Justin Vidic was targeted with a derogatory slur by Melbourne City's young forward, Medin Memeti.
On-Field Spat Sparks Investigation
The incident occurred during a fiery clash at AAMI Park on Tuesday night, where Melbourne City secured a narrow 1-0 victory. Tensions boiled over late in the game, leading to an all-in melee involving several players, including Memeti and Vidic.
The situation escalated further after the full-time whistle, with Roar coach Michael Valkanis and City chief executive Brad Rowse engaging in a public on-field argument. Amidst the post-match chaos, Vidic was seen confronting Memeti, an altercation that nearly interrupted a live television interview with City coach Aurelio Vidmar.
The specific allegation under investigation is that Memeti, a player of Albanian heritage, called Vidic, who is of Serbian descent, a "gypsy". This term is widely considered a deeply offensive racial slur in the Balkan region, from which both players hail.
Clubs Await Facts as FA Steps In
Brisbane Roar's chief executive, Kaz Patafta, confirmed the investigation was underway during a media briefing on Thursday. He stated the club was working to ascertain the facts of the matter, a process supported by discussions with Melbourne City's chair.
"There's an investigation by FA and we want to ascertain facts like every other club does," Patafta told reporters. "We take all matters, especially of this type of situation, seriously."
When questioned after the match, Medin Memeti downplayed the confrontation, suggesting Vidic was simply upset about the loss. The 10-start City player, who was part of the Young Socceroos' Under-20 Asian Cup winning team last year, could now face severe disciplinary action.
Melbourne City declined to comment when contacted by AAP regarding the allegations.
Precedent Points to Potential Suspension
If Football Australia's disciplinary and ethics committee finds sufficient evidence to support the allegation, Memeti faces the prospect of a lengthy ban. There is a direct precedent for punishment regarding the use of this specific term in the A-League.
In 2017, then-Melbourne City goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis was suspended for five matches after using the same insult towards Melbourne Victory striker Besart Berisha, who is of Kosovan heritage. Bouzanis, who was ironically in goal for Brisbane Roar in Tuesday's match, claimed he was unaware of the term's connotations and later apologised personally to Berisha.
The outcome of the current investigation will be closely watched, as Australian football continues to enforce a zero-tolerance policy towards discriminatory language on the pitch.
