"HE'S not a dirty player".
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They were the words that Sydney FC coach Steve Corica used to support Rhyan Grant when asked about the red card shown to the star defender in Sunday's A-League game against Melbourne City.
The Bathurst District Football graduate was sent from the field in the 25th minute of the contest after making a lunging tackle on Melbourne City's Nathaniel Atkinson.
Grant was initially yellow carded by referee Kurt Ams, but the official then upgraded it to red after reviewing the footage on a monitor beside the pitch.
As Corcia pointed out, it was the first time Grant had been shown a red card in his A-League career.
"He's definitely not a dirty player Rhyan. It's his first red card," he said.
"Obviously he's disappointed, I think maybe the slow motion picture made it look worse than it is. But he's not a dirty player at all, he's a very physical player and aggressive, but not dirty."
And Corica was not the only one pointing out Grant's good record, Sydney FC as a whole are backing their star defender.
The sky blues are appealing the three-game ban handed down to Grant on Monday by the A-League's independent match review panel in the wake of that incident.
"We will be appealing the decision ... on the basis of fact and comparative tackles that have gone unpunished," the club said in a statement.
"In addition, we would seek consideration for Rhyan Grant's exemplary disciplinary record for both club and country. Rhyan has amassed close to 250 senior matches, largely as a defender, and has never received a red card."
Fox Football commentator and former Socceroo Mark Bosnich said he felt the tackle was "150 per cent the right decision," but said the incident was "was out of character" for the former Bathurst Junior Sportsperson of the Year.
"To be honest, I've never seen him ever do a tackle like that," he said.
"Really, that was a terrible, terrible tackle, one not becoming of the player that he is.
"Rhyan Grant is for me the best right back in the country. He does not mean to do that."
