Alan McCormack will serve a five-match suspension starting today after an FA misconduct charge against him was upheld.

The Brentford midfielder got the massive ban not only for abusing a match official, but added games incurred during the 2-1 win over Cardiff City in April.

One of the two assistant referees that evening was Lisa Rashid - a seemingly vital factor that sees McCormack sidelined until December.

The FA 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.

Assistant ref: Lisa Rashid
Assistant ref: Lisa Rashid

"The player denied the charge, however, it was found proven following an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing on Thursday [20 October 2016].

"Along with his suspension, he was also fined £6,000, warned as to his future conduct and ordered to attend an education course."

Bees have said they are awaiting the written report before commenting, but the 32-year-old is ruled out of tomorrow's 4,000th Brentford game at Barnsley anyway- and looks set to miss the next two after that with a hamstring injury.

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