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Melbourne City believe Tim Cahill's red card was an error, but ban stands

Tim Cahill will have to serve a one-match A-League ban on Saturday night when his side entertain Brisbane Roar, even though the bizarre red card he received from referee Chris Beath in last weekend's Melbourne derby was probably given in error.

City sources say that FFA has told them that Beath should have shown Cahill a yellow card, not a red, as he tried to come off the bench in the dying minutes as City was trying to chase an equaliser against Melbourne Victory.

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Cahill bizarrely sent-off in controversial derby

Tim Cahill was handed a red card on the sideline as tensions boiled over following a controversial late own goal that gave Victory the spoils.

Cahill swore at Beath and called him a disgrace, pointing to the replay screen as it showed Victory's late winner, an own goal by City defender Manny Muscat.

City was incensed by the decision to let the goal stand, arguing that Victory striker Besart Berisha was offside and impeded City keeper Dean Bouzanis attempts to save Muscat's deflected pass back.

Cahill expressed their collective feelings by swearing at Beath, and paid the price.

City will not appeal against the decision and the club believes the red card cannot be rescinded.

Cahill has yet to publicly comment on the incident, which is one of the strangest in the history of the Australian game: FFA statistician Andrew Howe on Sunday said he could not recall an incident when a player was sent off before entering the field of play.