Cheriton AFC goalkeeper banned for over five years by the Football Association after confrontation with a referee

A footballer's been banned for over five years after an FA charge of throwing the ball at a referee and pushing him over was proven.

Cheriton AFC goalkeeper Elliott Stevens was hit with the lengthy sanction by the Football Association after he was said to have confronted the match official after his Sunday League side conceded a penalty.

It all kicked off in the 28th minute of the match between Cheriton and Lydd Town Sunday, played in August, after referee Andy Worthington awarded a penalty against Stevens' side.

According to the report of the incident, released by the FA following their investigation, Mr Stevens "rushed out of his goal towards (the referee) with the football in his hands. (He) threw the football at Mr Worthington forcefully with the ball striking him in the chest.

"Mr Worthington then showed ES a red card. Upon doing this ES rushed towards him and pushed him over with a "very forceful double handed in the chest". This made him fall to the ground. ES left the field of play threatening opposition players."

The referee asked the Cheriton manager to remove Mr Stevens from the ground "to avoid any further altercations." There had been a melee following the dismissal in the dugout area between the two sides.

It was stated that Mr Stevens protested that it was "never a penalty, he got the ball" and saying "you're a joke ref and ruining the game" and as he walked off he was quoted as saying "the ref's a ****" to his team-mates."

A photograph of the injury was said to have shown an impact consistent with what was described by Mr Worthington.

Providing evidence, the Lydd Town manager described the moments after the penalty was awarded and was quoted as saying: "ES then took off his gloves and "bounced around"