SYDNEY, Australia (AP) -Goalkeeper Danny Vukovic will be eligible to represent Australia at the Beijing Olympics after an independent appeals committee reduced his suspension for striking the referee in the A-League soccer grand final.

The decision announced Wednesday saw four months taken off Vukovic's original nine-month ban. It will be served in two parts - one effective through to June 28 and another from Aug. 29 to Oct. 5.

The break in between the two suspensions leaves Vukovic, who plays for the Central Coast Mariners, to compete at Beijing in August.

Footage of the March grand final showed Vukovic striking referee Mark Shield's arm following a corner. The Mariners argued the referee missed a hand ball by Newcastle's James Holland.

"It's stupid, there's no doubt about that,'' Australia coach Pim Verbeek said at the time. "We can be honest about that. He should have never done that.''

Australia has been drawn to play defending Olympic champion Argentina, Serbia and the Ivory Coast in the group stage in Beijing.

Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.