Brentford midfielder Alan McCormack has been hit with a five-match ban after being found guilty of using abusive language towards a match official in April.
McCormack, 32, was found to have breached FA Rule E3(1) after making reference to the official’s gender in the second half of Brentford’s 2-1 win over Cardiff.
The Irish midfielder will now miss Brentford’s next five matches, starting against Barnsley on Saturday, and will not feature for the Bees until December after being told to attend an education course.
“Brentford’s Alan McCormack will serve a five-match suspension with immediate effect after an FA misconduct charge against him was found proven," a statement read.
“The player was alleged to have used abusive and/or insulting words towards a match official in the 52nd minute of the game against Cardiff City on 19 April 2016, contrary to FA Rule E3(1).
“It was further alleged that this breach was an ‘aggravated breach’ as defined in FA Rule E3(2), as it included a reference to gender. The player denied the charge, however, it was found proven following an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing on Thursday.
“Along with his suspension, he was also fined £6,000, warned as to his future conduct and ordered to attend an education course.”
McCormack was a regular in the starting XI last season featuring in 27 matches. However, the former Southend midfielder has found game time hard to come by this season and only started two of their 13 league matches thus far.
In the last three Championship campaigns only Harlee Dean (18) has picked up more yellow cards for Brentford than McCormack (16). Brentford have two London derbies against Queens Park Rangers and Fulham to come in that run.
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