Soccer: Sigmund heads off for a dive

It seems that irony isn't lost on Ben Sigmund. Photo / Getty Images.

It seems that irony isn't lost on Ben Sigmund.

The Phoenix defender is unable to play for the Wellington-based A-League club against the Melbourne Victory at Etihad Stadium tomorrow night because of a one-match suspension he copped for being shown a red card in last weekend's 3-1 loss to Adelaide United.

Sigmund was given his marching orders when he was deemed by referee Jarred Gillett to have fouled Adelaide midfielder Jeronimo Neumann, although television replays appear to show the Argentine dived.

The Phoenix appealed the mandatory one-match ban that comes with a player receiving a red card but the match review panel didn't overturn it so Sigmund has the weekend off.

Sigmund's fellow Phoenix defender Michael Boxall tweeted that his team-mate would spend the weekend diving.

"Guess what Siggy has planned to do with his time while he serves his suspension. He's going diving. Oh, the irony," Boxall tweeted this afternoon.

He added: "PS. I didn't make that up. I couldn't make that up."

Boxall will start at centre back for the Phoenix in place of Sigmund tomorrow night.