Rotherham United’s Kirk Broadfoot has been handed a 10-match suspension by the FA after targeting James McClean with verbal abuse during a match with Wigan Athletic.
Broadfoot, a Scotland international and former Rangers defender, was charged for misconduct following an altercation with the Republic of Ireland winger during a match on 14 March. Broadfoot has also been ordered to pay a fine of £7,500 and complete an education programme.
An FA statement said: “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 and ordered to complete an education programme.”
McClean, who was born in Northern Ireland, has attracted criticism for refusing to wear a Remembrance Day poppy, explaining that for the people of his home town, Derry, “scene of the 1972 Bloody Sunday massacre, the poppy has come to mean something very different”. McClean was recently rebuked by Tony Pulis, manager of his new club, West Brom, for turning away during the playing of God Save the Queen before a match on their tour of the US.
