Ex-Scotland player gets hugeban and fine for verbal abuse

The Rotheram defender placed his forehead against Mr McClean’s and shouted at him after the Wigan player went down at the edge of the box during the match on March 14.

The English Football Association (FA) confirmed the former Rangers player is to receive a hefty ban as a result of language used during that game.

“Following an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing, Rotherham United’s Kirk Broadfoot will serve an immediate 10-match suspension after a misconduct charge against him was found proven,” the FA stated.

“The charge was that during a league fixture between Rotherham and Wigan Athletic on March 14, 2015 Broadfoot used abusive and/or insulting words towards a member of the opposition, in breach of FA Rule E3(1).

“It was further alleged that the breach was an “Aggravated Breach” as defined by Rule E3(2).

“Broadfoot was also fined £7,500 and ordered to complete an education programme,” the FA added.

The FA did not specify the nature of the abuse and whether it was levelled at Mr McClean or not.

Back in 2011 Barcelona striker Luis Suarez, who was then at Liverpool, was handed an eight-match ban and fine £40,000 by the FA after being found guilty of racially abusing Juventus’ Patrice Evra, who was then at Manchester United.

The Uruguay striker had clashed with the France defender during a 1-1 draw at Anfield on October 15, 2011.

The controversial Uruguayan striker disputed the finding at the time and claimed his comments had been misinterpreted. However, in a lenghty report of over one hundred pages the FA said that Suárez had “damaged the image of English football around the world” and found Evra to be a credible witness.