Sebastian Ryall
Ryall playing for the Olyroos in 2011
Personal information
Full name Sebastian John Henry Ryall
Date of birth (1989-07-18) 18 July 1989 (age 34)
Place of birth Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Centre Back / Right Back
Youth career
Northern Spirit
2005–2006 NSWIS
2006–2007 AIS
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007 AIS 24 (0)
2007–2009 Melbourne Victory 24 (0)
2009–2018 Sydney FC 164 (10)
International career
2006–2009 Australia U-20 25 (4)
2007–2012 Australia U-23 10 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21 May 2017

Sebastian "Seb" Ryall (born 18 July 1989) is an Australian professional football (soccer) player who plays as a defender, most recently for Sydney Olympic.

Club career

Melbourne Victory

Ryall played junior football for West Pymble Football Club and Northern Spirit FC in Sydney. Ryall later played for the AIS in the Victorian Premier League before signing for Melbourne Victory on a 2-year contract in August 2007.[1]

He made his first appearance for the club in their Round three match against Adelaide United and played in their Grand Final win over Adelaide in March 2009. In April 2009 he signed with Sydney FC for the 2009/2010 A-League campaign.[2]

Sydney FC

Ryall training with Sydney FC

He made his first start for Sydney FC after coming back from his suspension in their Round 5, 2–1 loss to Gold Coast United.

He re-signed with Sydney FC for a further two seasons, on 24 August 2010.[3]

Ryall scored his first goal for Sydney FC in the 2011–12 A-League season with a dramatic equaliser in the 90th minute, against his former team Melbourne Victory on 26 January. Ryall's strike came less than a minute after being brought on as a substitute . Ryall continued to score important goals for Sydney against his former club, including 3 goals in 4 appearances against the Victory during the 2013–14 A-League season with goals in the Round 5, 3–2 win at Allianz Stadium,[4] Round 16, 5–0 win on Australia Day at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne,[5] and again in the 1-2 2013-14 Elimination Final loss against the Victory at Etihad.[6]

Controversy surrounded Ryall during the 2014–15 A-League Round 17 clash vs the Melbourne Victory when he was awarded a penalty following a possession contest with Victory player Gui Finkler. Initial replays appeared to show Ryall simulating contact with Finkler's leg. At the time, Melbourne Victory were leading 2–1, and the resulting conversion of the penalty kick allowed Sydney FC to get back into the game.[7] The decision to award the penalty was heavily criticized by media commentators, managers, players, and pundits alike, with former player and Fox Sports commentator Mark Bosnich reacting angrily to the decision.[8] Melbourne Victory player Kosta Barbarouses claimed he had "lost respect" for Ryall over the incident.[9] Ryall also drew criticism from Sydney FC coach Graham Arnold, and CEO of the club Tony Pignata over his reaction following the awarding of the penalty where he appeared to clip Finkler over his head.[10][11] On 19 February, Ryall was cleared of diving by the FFA Match Review Panel, with the board taking 2 hours to clear him following reviewing slowed down footage, which showed Ryall's leg being clipped by Finkler.[12]

Ryall signed a two-year contract extension along with teammate Rhyan Grant midway through the 2014–15 A-League season, which will keep him at the club until the end of 2017.[13]

During Round 12 in a match against the Central Coast Mariners of the 2015/16 season, Ryall was handed the captain's armband after regular skipper Alex Brosque limped off with a recurring hamstring injury and both vice-captains Jacques Faty and Shane Smeltz starting on the bench. Ryall proceeded to earn multiple best on ground awards during his stint as skipper.

Ryall scored his first A-League goal in 3 years on 25 November, heading a free-kick from Jordy Buijs home during Sydney's 3–1 win over Brisbane Roar.[14]

On 17 January 2018, Ryall had his contract terminated with Sydney FC at his request in order to seek a break from football, stating that he had grown "disillusioned" and grown out of favour with the sport. In doing so, allows for Ryall to pursue other opportunities outside of football and a hope to rekindle his passion for the game.[15]

International career

Throughout 2007 and 2008 Ryall was the captain of the Australian U-20 side. Due to a suspension, Sebastian missed out on selection for the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup due to his criminal charges, where which he would have been assured a spot in the team. After a lengthy absence from Australia's national teams, in September 2010 he was called up to the Australian under-23 side by coach Aurelio Vidmar for a Four Nations Tournament held in Vietnam.

Court case

Ryall was charged, on 15 May 2009, with engaging in a sexual act with a 13-year-old girl. The alleged incident happened in January 2008, while he was playing with Melbourne Victory.[16] He was suspended from participation in football matches in Australia, until 3 September as well as being stood down from the national youth team by Football Federation Australia Chief Executive Officer Ben Buckley for bringing the game into disrepute.[17][18][19][20][21] On Monday 25 January 2010, he was committed to stand trial on the case after his committal hearing at Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court[22] On 15 May 2010, the Director of Public Prosecutions dropped the charges against Ryall[23] After a submission by Ryall's legal team that at the time of the alleged incident, he believed the girl to be over the legal age of 16[24] and that they were "just kissing"[25]

Career statistics

As of 19 December 2018[26]
Club Season League[a] Cup[b] Continental[c] Other[d] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Australian Institute of Sport 2007 Victorian Premier League 24 0 — — — 24 0
Melbourne Victory 2007–08 A-League 14 0 — 6 0 — 20 0
2008–09 10 0 — — 4 0 14 0
Victory total 24 0 — 6 0 4 0 34 0
Sydney FC 2009–10 A-League 18 0 — — — 18 0
2010–11 28 0 — 3 0 — 31 0
2011–12 15 1 — — — 15 1
2012–13 25 3 — — — 25 3
2013–14 21 5 — — — 21 5
2014–15 24 0 3 0 — — 27 0
2015–16 23 0 2 0 5 0 — 27 0
2016–17 10 0 5 1 — — 15 1
2017–18 4 1 3 1 — — 7 2
Sydney total 168 10 13 2 8 0 — 189 12
Career Total 216 10 13 2 14 0 4 0 247 11
  1. ^ A-League statistics include final series matches
  2. ^ Includes the FFA Cup only
  3. ^ All appearance(s) in AFC Champions League
  4. ^ Includes the A-League Pre-Season Challenge Cup

Honours

Club

Melbourne Victory
Sydney FC

Country

Australia

References

  1. ^ "Victory sign young Socceroos captain". Sportal.com.au. 28 August 2007. Retrieved 10 October 2007.
  2. ^ "Sebastian Ryall moves to Sydney FC". The Australian. 7 April 2009. Retrieved 13 May 2009.
  3. ^ "Young gun Ryall re-signs with Sky Blues". Sydney FC. 24 August 2010. Archived from the original on 25 February 2011. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
  4. ^ Lucius, Adam (9 November 2014). "Sydney win dramatic Big Blue clash". Football Federation Australia (via omnisport). Archived from the original on 13 November 2014. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  5. ^ Lynch, Michael (26 January 2014). "Sydney FC thrash hapless Melbourne Victory 5-0". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  6. ^ Davutovic, David (18 April 2014). "Gui Finkler's late winner sees Melbourne Victory knock Sydney FC out of the A-League finals". Herald Sun. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  7. ^ "Sydney FC plays out 3-3 A-League draw with Melbourne Victory". ABC. 14 February 2015. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  8. ^ "Big Blue: Mark Bosnich slams Strebre Delovski's penalty decision in Allianz Stadium 3-3 thriller". The Daily Telegraph. 14 February 2015. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  9. ^ Lerner, Ronnie (17 February 2015). "Melbourne Victory's Kosta Barbarouses has lost respect for Sydney FC's Sebastian Ryall following controversial penalty". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  10. ^ "Sebastian Ryall must control himself better, says Sydney FC coach Graham Arnold after diving furore". ABC. 19 February 2015. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  11. ^ Barbieri, Paul. "Pignata blasts Ryall for Finkler flick". Sportal. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  12. ^ Bossi, Dominic (19 February 2015). "Sydney FC defender Sebastian Ryall cleared of diving against Melbourne Victory". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  13. ^ Smithies, Tom (24 February 2014). "Sydney FC re-sign Seb Ryall and Rhyan Grant, switch focus to securing Shane Smeltz's future". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  14. ^ "Sydney FC v Brisbane Roar FC - Sydney FC Match Centre". www.sydneyfc.com. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017.
  15. ^ "Sydney FC Agree to Release Defender - Sydney FC".
  16. ^ "A-League star Sebastian Ryall 'had sex with 13-year-old'". Adelaide Now. 15 May 2009. Archived from the original on 17 May 2009. Retrieved 15 May 2009.
  17. ^ "Young Socceroo stood down over sex act with girl charge". The Sydney Morning Herald. 15 May 2009. Retrieved 15 May 2009.
  18. ^ "Sydney FC recruit Sebastian Ryall stood down while he fights sex charge". The Australian. 15 May 2009. Archived from the original on 18 May 2009. Retrieved 15 May 2009.
  19. ^ "BREAKING NEWS: Sydney FC Player Sebastian Ryall in Child Sex Scandal". goal.com. 15 May 2009. Retrieved 15 May 2009.
  20. ^ "A-League player faces child sex charges". abc.net.au. 15 May 2009. Retrieved 15 May 2009.
  21. ^ "Player suspended following under-age sex charge". USA Today. 15 May 2009. Retrieved 15 May 2009.
  22. ^ "Young Socceroo accused of sex with girl, 13". The Sydney Morning Herald. 25 January 2010. Retrieved 25 January 2009.
  23. ^ "Sex charges dropped against Ryall". ABC. 16 May 2010. Retrieved 18 May 2010.
  24. ^ Kennedy, Les (16 May 2010). "Soccer star in the clear on under-age sex charge". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 18 May 2010.
  25. ^ Scheikowski, Margaret (22 October 2009). "Girl said she was 16, Ryall tells police". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  26. ^ "Sebastian Ryall Appearance Details". aleaguestats.com. Retrieved 19 December 2018.

External links

Sebastian Ryall

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