FELIX HEALY, the Derry City manager, has been banned from the dug out for 11 months and fined £500 for his part in the fracas during the FAI National League Premier Division game against Bohemians at the Brandywell on December 22nd.

Derry City have been fined £1,000 for not providing adequate security at the game. Failure to do so in future games will, according to the FAI, have very serious repercussions for the club.

Larry Corbally, Bohemians' assistant manager, has been suspended for a year and fined £250 for allegedly throwing water over the referee, Pat Dempsey, at the end of the game.

Turlough O'Connor, Bohemians' manager, was warned about his future conduct and James Coll, the Bohemians defender who was dismissed at half time along with Healy, has been banned for two games and fined £20.

It is still not clear if Coll, who claimed that he was provoked by the Derry manager, intends to take legal action to clear his name.

Derry, as the host club, have been made to shoulder most of the blame for the incidents, a judgment which is unlikely to enhance the image of the National League and its officials north of the border.

Club officials are expected to meet this evening to discuss the implications of the ruling and early indications are that they will appeal the decisions against both Healy and the club.

"I will be talking with people at the club later today but my initial reaction to the sanctions against the club is one of astonishment," said Healy last night.

"In my own case, I have already apologised publicly for my behaviour and if this is the punishment I must serve, so be it. But to point the finger at the club for a breakdown in security arrangements is absurd.

"Over the years security at the Brandywell has been second to none in National League games. To my knowledge, the only off the pitch violence in all that time occurred in a game against Shamrock Rovers and it had nothing to do with Derry's supporters.

"A lot of Derry people, not just those involved with the club, will be annoyed with the threat that in the event of another incident at the ground, the consequences to the club will be severe. That kind of statement cannot be justified."

Healy's suspension takes effect on January 20th and will last until the end of the year. On being informed of the decision, the manager said he would have no difficulty in removing himself from the dug out on the basis that he didn't normally bark out instructions during a game.

But some people at Derry fear the suspension could persuade him to leave the club which he has served so diligently, either as player or manager, for much of the last 15 years.

Even before the Brandywell incident, there were signs that he was becoming disenchanted with the pressures of the job.

Derry were at a low ebb when Healy returned from Coleraine to take over from Tony O'Doherty two years ago, but he has turned around the club to the point where they lead the Premier Division by three points.

Before making their decision, the disciplinary commission heard reports from both the referee and the official National League observer at the game in addition to submissions from both clubs. Significantly, however, they rejected video evidence.

By imposing record sentences, the FAI are anxious to be seen to lend match officials maximum support in the drive against unfair or unprofessional conduct. But the price of that commitment may put them at odds with the Northern club in the weeks and months ahead.

. The Liverpool Chelsea tie has been picked as the BBC's live FA Cup fourth round clash. The game has been moved to Sunday January 26th with a 4.10 kick off.

Sky TV will show Nottingham Forest against the winners of the Newcastle Charlton game, also on January 26th (kick-off: 1.30).