Rotherham United midfielder Kirk Broadfoot has been banned a ten games for verbally abusing Ireland international James McClean. The former Rangers player's ten-game-ban is the longest in the FA history, two games more than Luis Suarez received for racially abusing Patrice Evra in 2011.
In addition, Broadfoot has been ordered to complete an education programme, and was fined £7,500 by the FA.
The abuse has been described as a 'sectarian tirade' and took place on the 14th of March when Rotherham hosted Wigan Athletic at the New York Stadium. Broadfoot is a Protestant from Ayrshire in Scotland while Republic of Ireland international McClean is from a strong nationalist area in Derry.
McClean has been criticised in the English media for refusing to wear a poppy on Remembrance Day, and more recently for turning away from the flag during the English national anthem before a preseason game for new club West Brom.
