Player faces unsporting conduct charges for shoving ball boy

ADELAIDE, Australia (AP) - Adelaide United defender Michael Marrone has been cited for unsporting conduct for shoving a ball boy during the late stages of his team's 2-1 loss to Sydney FC in the FFA Cup final.

Football Federation Australia on Wednesday issued a disciplinary notice to Marrone for "engaging in serious unsporting conduct," with a hearing date to be set.

Marrone knocked over the ball boy, reported by local media to be aged 10, while trying to get the ball to take a throw-in during extra time in the Tuesday night match.

The ball boy and his father were later allowed to take part in the trophy presentation ceremony.

"Just thankful that nobody was hurt," FFA chief executive David Gallop said at a news conference Wednesday. "Perhaps some lessons for a few people in that one. Glad that it didn't detract too much from what was a really exciting finish to the game and glad that the boy and his father got to share in the celebration at the end."

While there are no precedents in Australia for such charges, Chelsea midfielder Eden Hazard was banned for three games for violent conduct after kicking out at a ball boy in 2013.

In other countries, clubs have been fined if their ball boys have been found to be deliberately slowing play.