A player has been banned from all football-related activity for five years following an assault on a referee.
The player's club has also been hit with a €500 fine and docked 10 points following the attack earlier this month.
The incident took place on April 6 when Sporting Ballyjamesduff FC played Bay FC in a North East Football League (NEFL) clash in Dundalk.
Five minutes from the finish of the game a player from the Bay team could be seen lying on the ground, and the referee appeared to signal for a physio to come on to attend to him.
In the moments that followed, the referee appeared to be targeted by a person who sprinted across the pitch, leapt into the air and with both feet off the ground, kicked the ref in the midriff.
Confirming the player's ban, an FAI statement on Friday read: "Following a disciplinary hearing earlier today, an independent disciplinary committee has sanctioned a player from Sporting BJD FC with a five-year ban from all football-related activity for assaulting a match official during Sporting BJD FC’s game against Bay United FC in the North Eastern Football League on April 6th, 2023.
"The FAI acknowledges and notes the decision made by the independent disciplinary committee and would like to reaffirm our strong condemnation of any act or threat of violence against match officials.
"Please note the decision of the independent disciplinary committee may be appealed."
Cavan club Sporting Ballyjamesduff have also been hit with a €500 fine and a 10-point deduction following the incident.
READ NEXT:
Everyone says same thing about Roy Keane after Man United's latest embarrassing result
Kildare's Kevin Feely has 'never looked back' on what might have been in soccer
Stuart Byrne column: Jack Byrne was right to consider MLS offer
Conor McGregor fans worried as he appears to pose with joint and says 'smoke the back box off it'
Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts
