Hamilton Accies boss Brian Rice has been hit with a four-game touchline ban for his comments regarding head of referee operations Crawford Allan in their Scottish Cup exit to St Mirren earlier this month.
Rice, who said he would fight the charges, was in the dock this afternoon as he faced up to two disciplinary breaches in a hearing over Zoom.
He was charged with criticising match officials in a way which indicates bias, incompetence or impinges on their character, as well as not acting in the best interests of football and using insulting words.
And he has now been handed a four-game ban, two of which are suspended, after the second charge was proved. Charge one of indicating bias was "not proved."
He will now be in the stands for Saturday's Premiership clash away to St Mirren and Wednesday's trip to Ross County.
Rice is clear to return to the dugout for the final day clash with Kilmarnock at New Douglas Park on May 16.
Following Hamilton's 3-0 Scottish Cup third round defeat to the Buddies on April 3, Rice took aim at head of referee operations Crawford Allan over Accies failing to get big decisions in games and he was incensed that they weren't awarded a penalty when Ronan Hughes appeared to be pushed in the box early on.
Rice said: "We're getting absolutely nothing. Absolutely nothing.
"And I'm fed up phoning Crawford Allan and being f****** shoved to the side because we're only Hamilton.
"That's what's happening. I've phoned Crawford Allan three times in 40 years. I just get shoved to the side, 'ah it's only Hamilton'."
A statement from Accies read: "Following today’s SFA disciplinary hearing the club can announce that Head Coach Brian Rice has received a four match touchline ban, two of which is suspended.
"Neither the club nor Brian will make any further comment on the matter."
Ironically, it is now St Mirren who Accies face next in a massive Premiership clash on Saturday.
Hamilton are three points adrift of Ross County at the foot of the table with three games remaining.
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