Kirk Broadfoot given record 10 game ban for James McClean abuse

Rotherham and former Rangers defender Kirk Broadfoot has been banned for 10 games by the English FA for targeting abuse at Ireland international winger James McClean.

Broadfoot was found guilty of misconduct by the FA following an incident which occured during the Millers’ Championship fixture against Wigan on March 14th.

It is reported the incident involved McClean, who recently moved to West bromwich Albion, with Broadfoot unhappy at the award of a free-kick which he felt the Republic of Ireland international had dived to win.

Wigan scored from the resulting free-kick, and after that game Broadfoot told the Sheffield Star: “He’s cheating. That is cheating. I am nowhere near him and he’s diving.”

An Independent Regulatory Commision hearing deemed the Scot had “used abusive/and or insulting words towards a member of the opposition, in breach of FA Rule E3(1).”

An FA statement added: “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 charge was that during a league fixture between Rotherham and Wigan Athletic on 14 March 2015 Broadfoot used abusive and/or insulting words towards a member of the opposition. Broadfoot was also fined £7,500 (€10,600) and ordered to complete an education programme.”

McClean, who signed for West Brom in June, was recently warned by manager Tony Pulis for turning away while the English national anthem, God Save the Queen, was played before a pre-season game in America.

The ban is a record for verbal abuse in English football, beating the eight games handed to Luis Suarez when he was found guilty of racially abusing Patrice Evra in December 2011.

It is also the same length as the ban Suarez was handed for biting Branislav Ivanovic in April 2013.