Wellington Phoenix midfielder Alex Rufer has received a one-match suspension for the controversial red card awarded against him in last weekend's A-League draw against Macarthur FC.
The Match Review Panel (MRC) downgraded the offence from 'Assault on a Player' to 'Serious Unsporting Conduct' which carries a mandatory one-match suspension.
The club says it has accepted the ban and will not appeal.
The decision means that Rufer will miss the Wellington Phoenix's match against Newcastle Jets in Wollongong on January 24th.
Wellington Phoenix general manager David Dome says that the club and player have accepted the decision of the review panel.
"While disappointed that the red card was issued in the first place, I think this result is the best that we could have expected," says Dome.
"The downgrading of the offence by the Match Review Panel is a common-sense approach and the MRP must be congratulated on this action.
"We will now move on and prepare for our home match on January 24 against Newcastle Jets."
