According to a report on the FA’s official website, Brentford player Alan McCormack has been found guilty of misconduct and suspended for five games, effective immediately.
The Dublin-born player has been found guilty of using, according to the FA, “abusive and/or insulting words towards a match official”, an offence that led to an FA misconduct charge for contravening FA Rule E3(1).
The incident in question occurred in the 52nd minute of the game against Cardiff played on April 19 this year. It was further compunded, say the FA, by it being an ‘aggravated breach’ as defined by FA Rule E3(2) as it included “a reference to gender,” with female Assistant Referee Lisa Rashid running one of the lines that day.
To run alongside his five game suspension, McCormack was also fined a sum of £6,000 and ordered to attend an education course.
McCormack has made three appearances for the Bees this season in the Sky Bet Championship against Reading, Wigan and Newcastle, pllaying a total of 177 minutes.
His ban will see him miss games against Barnsley, Queens Park Rangers, Fulham, Blackburn and Birmingham before finally being available for Norwich City on December 3.
The BBC report that Brentford have “acknowledged the FA’s decision,” yet say they will not comment formally until written confirmation is received at the club.
One group who are commenting on the decision and ban are ‘Women in Football‘ who said in the BBC article: “Women in Football are pleased that men associated with the game complained about McCormack’s insulting language to a female official.We also thank the FA for taking the complaint seriously and that the player concerned has now been handed an appropriate sanction.”
