Sunderland manager Lee Johnson will be without trusted assistant Jamie McAllister for the Black Cats' play-off campaign after the former Bristol City coach was hit with a six-match ban.
The Black Cats are considering appealing the FA's punishment which was imposed following an incident at half-time and at the end of Sunderland's 3-1 win over Oxford United on Good Friday involving players and staff from both clubs.
Oxford manager Karl Robinson claimed after that game in the north east, that his goalkeeper Jack Stevens had been headbutted by one of the Sunderland staff, detailing: “We have asked the police to come. Their players have seen it, our players have seen it. My player certainly felt it."
Oxford have confirmed that Robinson, who was absent from the touchline for their final game of the regular League One season against Burton Albion, has been fined and is serving a four-match ban.
While in the wake of Sunderland's 1-1 draw with Northampton, Johnson revealed that McAllister, his former teammate and No2 at Bristol City, had been given a six-game ban, comprising a three-game stadium ban and a further three-game touchline ban.
Sunderland, who face Lincoln City in the first leg of their play-off semi-final next Wednesday, are considering appealing the latter part of the sanctions.
"We have got the opportunity to appeal and our early thought process is that we will do that," Johnson said. "Obviously you have to have grounds to appeal and we believe we have, we believe it is unjust, but we have to put our case and our argument forward."
Johnson moved to the Stadium of Light in December, taking McAllister with him, and has won 18 of his 37 matches in charge for the Black Cats as they finished fourth in League One.
McAllister made 210 appearances for Bristol City between 2006 and 2012 and was part of Gary Johnson's team which reached the 2008 Championship play-off final before losing to Hull City.
