Football Australia has launched a formal investigation into allegations that Melbourne City's rising star Medin Memeti racially abused Brisbane Roar striker Justin Vidic during a heated A-League encounter. The incident, which occurred on January 6, threatens to cast a shadow over the league as authorities work to establish the facts.
The Alleged Incident and On-Pitch Tensions
The controversy stems from a spiteful match at AAMI Park, where Melbourne City secured a 1-0 victory over Brisbane Roar. Tempers flared late in the game, leading to an all-in melee involving both players. It is alleged that Memeti, who is of Albanian heritage, directed the term 'gypsy' at Vidic, who is of Serbian background. This term carries deeply derogatory and offensive connotations in the Balkan region.
Post-match, tensions remained high. A furious Justin Vidic was seen remonstrating with Medin Memeti at full-time, with the confrontation nearly interrupting Melbourne City coach Aurelio Vidmar's live television interview on Network Ten. In his own comments after the match, Memeti downplayed the clash, suggesting Vidic was simply "a bit cut 'cause he lost".
Club and FA Response to the Investigation
While the investigation is ongoing, Melbourne City has confirmed that Medin Memeti will remain available for selection. Coach Aurelio Vidmar, speaking at a press conference on Friday, stated he was unaware of the specifics of the incident at the time. "No, I just saw what was happening behind me. I had no idea what was going on," Vidmar said. When pressed on Memeti's availability, he confirmed, "Yep," meaning the young star is expected to feature in City's next home game against Newcastle.
Vidmar deferred all questions to the governing body, stating, "The process is with the FA." Brisbane Roar chief executive Kaz Patafta confirmed the investigation was underway, noting that the chair of Melbourne City had reached out. "We want to ascertain facts like every other club does," Patafta told reporters. "We take all matters, especially of this type of situation seriously... But right now we need to ascertain facts, understand what's occurred, and then we'll take it from there."
Potential Consequences and Historical Precedent
Should Football Australia's investigation find sufficient evidence to support the allegations, Young Socceroo Medin Memeti could be referred to the FA's disciplinary and ethics committee for the use of discriminatory language. The potential sanctions are serious, as there is a direct precedent. In 2017, goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis – then of Melbourne City, now at Brisbane Roar – was suspended for five matches for using the same insult towards then Melbourne Victory star Besart Berisha.
The outcome of this probe will be closely watched, as it touches on issues of cultural sensitivity, on-field conduct, and the sport's ongoing commitment to eradicating racial abuse. All parties now await the findings of Football Australia's thorough examination of the events that unfolded on January 6.
