A footballer found guilty by the Football Association of throwing his shirt at a match official and pushing him has been banned for five months.

Danson Sports player Nathan Hunter pleaded not-guilty to FA charges of misconduct but a commission handed out a 154-day suspension from all football activity, along with a £75 fine.

Hunter was sent off in the Kent County League, Division 1 West match between Danson Sports and Equinoccial at the Mayplace Sports Field in Crayford.

Two misconduct charges were issued by the London FA after Mr Hunter was alleged to have thrown his shirt at a member of the opposition, Equinoccial club secretary Juan Endara, who was acting as an assistant referee. It was further alleged that he then pushed the acting official.

Connor Wood, the referee, submitted a report to the FA's disciplinary commission and the case was dealt with by Andrew Duarte Costa, an independent FA appointed chair. Witness statements from the secretary Mr Endara as well as Equinoccial chairman Daniel Endara were included in the published findings.

According to Mr Wood's report, he saw Mr Hunter "throwing his shirt at Mr Juan Endara, who was acting as an assistant referee and running the line on Danson Sports Football Club's side. The referee also stated witnessing Mr Hunter pushing Mr Juan Endara after he showed him a second yellow card for throwing the shirt. Afterwards, Mr Wood also clarified that he had not heard anything said by Mr Hunter, that it was all physical."

Daniel Endara, chairman for Equinoccial, said that the player "body pushed" Mr Juan Endara after the acting official had given the shirt back to the player.

Mr Juan Endara's own statement said he had been hit on the back of the head by a shirt thrown by Mr Hunter.

The report said that "Mr Hunter's alleged behaviour met the requirements to be considered physical contact against a match official, which also, intrinsically, entailed a threatening and/or abusive nature." As a result the commission found, on the balance of probabilities, the charge proven.

The commission was informed of Mr Hunter's previous disciplinary record, considered as mitigating factors, which included cautions for adopting an aggressive attitude, unsporting behaviour and dissent. Mr Hunter had a right of appeal against the FA's verdict.