A match referee was left "frightened for his safety" after sending a player off in a Kent County League Premier Division fixture.

Halls AFC captain Ryan Golding was hit with a 133-day suspension after the Football Association's disciplinary commission found him guilty of making a threat towards a referee following his dismissal.

Mr Golding pleaded not-guilty to an FA improper conduct charge after being accused of telling the referee: "I will wait for you outside after the game."

The match between Halls AFC and Tenterden Town took place on October 8, 2022 and referee Haniel Whitmore sent Mr Golding off after around 25 minutes.

In the FA commission's report it was said that at half-time "Ryan stayed by the exit of the pitch angrily shouting and swearing at the referee, criticising the decision."

The officials requested that Mr Golding move from the pitch for the second half. The report said that assistant John Quirke was "very upset" and the referee was "frightened for his safety."

Assistant referee Kevin Greenhead, who described Mr Golding as "being irate" confirmed to the commission that "Ryan refused to move away at the request of his coach, the referee asked him to move two or three times before the other assistant referee John Quirke asked. When he did finally move he threatened that he will be waiting outside for the referee after the match."

Fellow official Mr Quirke said that he "could hear Ryan complaining about the sending off, accusing the referee of being "******* useless". The officials therefore decided that they would ask Ryan to move away before the restart.

"Ryan was duly asked to move to the changing room or viewing area a few times. There was a stand off after which the threat was made that he would be waiting at the end of the match. Upon hearing the threat John told Ryan that he really was out of order."

Mr Golding denied making the threat to the referee. He accepted that he was swearing and cursing about his sending off but that was to his own players.

He added: "the referee was rude, just telling him to "get out." The commission was told that "Ryan wanted the referee to ask him politely and say please and that he did repeat the referee's request by saying to his substitutes "they are making me wait in the ******* car park" which he claimed may have been interpreted wrongly as a threat."

After the match Mr Golding waited for the officials to shake hands.

Manager George Michael - who represented Mr Golding at the hearing - submitted that he believed the response by Mr Golding to his substitutes was "they are making me wait in the ******* car park" and that repeating the referee's request for him to wait in the car park had been misconstrued as a threat.

The commission, basing their decision on the balance of probability, found the charge proven. The commission said they "preferred the evidence of the match officials, who were found to be convincing witnesses."

In their findings, the report stated: "The likelihood on a balance of probability is that there was a reaction from Ryan, and that reaction was as described by the officials. The video evidence showed toing and froing and finger pointing, rather than a calm situation as claimed by Ryan."

The commission concluded on a balance of probability that the oral exchange was likely to be as set out by the match officials. Along with the suspension, Mr Golding was fined £75 and must complete an online education course. There is a right of appeal.

After KentOnline published this article, Halls Athletic Football Club sent a statement.

It reads: "Ryan Golding completely denies the charge against him and the club stands by his account of events as well as the other witnesses that gave evidence, re-telling this event as a complete misunderstanding of what was said. The club have appealed the county decision with The Football Association as a carriage of mis-justice and await a hearing in January.”

Halls club secretary Chris Michaelas said: “Ryan is an exceptional player with an outstanding disciplinary record over his 14-plus years in senior football, and this ruling is being challenged with The FA Appeals Committee on several grounds. No further comment can be made until the process is over, and we can then clear Ryan’s name.”