Kewell has suspension confirmedWhether Australia likes it or not, Harry Kewell's one-match World Cup ban has been confirmed following his send-off for handball against Ghana.
Kewell, coach Pim Verbeek and senior players felt the red-card in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Ghana was a mistake.
But under FIFA rules, there is no right of appeal to the automatic one-match ban.
It means Kewell is out of the must-win clash with Serbia on Wednesday (Thursday AEST), after which the Socceroos could exit the tournament if the result in the Germany-Ghana match does not go their way.
'At the moment, there is no avenue for challenging a referee's decision apart from in cases of mistaken identity,' Football Federation Australia head of national teams John Boultbee said on Sunday.
'Here there is no option of an increased suspension, so there's nothing to argue against.'
FIFA rules allow no more than a one-match ban for deliberately handling the ball and preventing a goalscoring opportunity.
Kewell was livid after his send-off, for blocking a goalbound Jonathan Mensah shot on the goalline with his upper arm after just 25 minutes of the match.
Italian referee Roberto Rosetti had no hesitation in brandishing red and awarding a penalty, which Ghana scored to equalise.
And it has ignited intense debate around Australia as to both the Socceroos' track record in receiving debatable refereeing decisions, as well as the merits of whether the handball warranted a send-off.
But the referee - under the letter of the law - had no option but to send Kewell off once he blew for a penalty.
The rule states: 'A player is sent off - if he prevents a goal or an obvious goalscoring opportunity by deliberately handling the ball.
'This punishment arises not from the act of the player deliberately handling the ball but from the unacceptable and unfair intervention that prevented a goal being scored.'
Meanwhile, the Socceroos had a light recovery session on Sunday at their Ruimsig Stadium training base.
Injured midfielder Vinnie Grella remains with the squad as he attempts to overcome a knee ligament strain, but didn't train at all.
The 10 starting players who expended plenty of energy salvaging the draw did only very light work, while the substitutes and those who didn't play took part in some seven-a-side matches.
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