Barnet head coach Dean Brennan has been banned for nine games for insulting a female referee and referring to her gender.
Brennan was charged by the FA in December over an incident during the team’s home defeat to Shrewsbury Town on September 6, when he was sent off midway through the first half following a dissent from referee Kirsty Doyle.
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The 45-year-old denied the accusation at the hearing, but an independent commission found that was not the case and handed him a suspension, a £2,000 fine and compulsory education courses.
“Throughout this case, I categorically deny the FA’s allegations of discrimination,” Brennan said in a statement.
“While the panel came to a conclusion that I must respect, I disagree with their decision.”
The FA said the written reasons and decision in the case will be published in due course.
Allegations of inappropriate conduct by a match official using abusive and/or insulting language due to an explicit or implicit reference to gender are considered by the FA to be a “serious breach”.
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Brennan took over the second-tier club in September 2021 and guided the team back to the EFL from the National League last season.
The ban means Brennan will be unable to take charge in the dugout until Cambridge United visit on March 28.
His statement went on to say “everyone has a place in football”, while he thanked the club, chairman and owners as well as representatives from the League Managers’ Association and their families for their support.
“For me personally, football has given me everything I have today; I owe football everything,” he said.
“It allowed me to meet my wife and build our family and friends.
“It’s made me who I am today while staying true to my Irish heritage, which I’m very proud of.”
