Barnet manager, Dean Brennan, has been handed a nine-match touchline ban by the Football Association after being found guilty of verbally abusing a referee while making a reference to gender during a League Two fixture.

It emerged back in December that Brennan, 45, had been charged with an aggravated breach of FA rule E3.1 over alleged comments made to Kirsty Dowle during Barnet's defeat against Shrewsbury Town back in September.

The Barnet manager denied the charge but has now been found guilty by an independent FA regulatory commission, who have hit him with a nine-match touchline ban, a £2,000 fine and a mandatory education programme.

Barnet confirmed the sanctions on Thursday afternoon along with a statement from Brennan, which read: “Throughout this case I have categorically denied the FA charge of discrimination.

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“Whilst the panel have come to their conclusion, which I have to respect, I do not agree with their decision.

“There is a place in football for everyone, it’s the greatest sport on the planet.

“Personally, football has given me everything I have today; I owe football everything.

“It enabled me to meet my wife and create our family and friends.

“This made me the person I am today, whilst staying true to my Irish heritage, of which I am extremely proud.”

Brennan, who was sent off by Dowle during the Shrewsbury game back in September, will be unable to be present in the Barney dugout until March 28, when the Bees will meet promotion contenders Cambridge United.

Barnet are currently 11th in the League Two standings, just three points off the play-off places.

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