An exchange of insults between footballers has led to one being handed a six-game ban for using a reference to sexual orientation.

Greenways Aces player Reece Lyons denied using the term f****** f***** during a heated exchange in the Kent County League Division 2 Central & East game against Punjab United Reserves but was found guilty by an FA disciplinary decision.

Aces were in action at the Elite Venue Sports Ground against Punjab United Reserves when things got heated during the match in September.

The verbal exchange was reported by the referee and Lyons was charged with a breach of improper conduct, aggravated as it included a reference to sexual orientation.

In response to the charge, Lyons pleaded not guilty and requested that the matter be dealt with in his absence.

The burden of proof was on the Kent FA to prove he said those words on the balance of probability.

Stacy Newnham-Payne was appointed to conduct a non-personal hearing and reviewed submitted documents before finding the charges proven.

She noted: “Mr Reece Lyons accepts he was annoyed at what he perceived to be a deliberate kicking of his team-mate by the aggrieved and that he became involved in the exchange of insults.

“Further, it is submitted ‘at this time I accept we were both being quite abusive to each other and whilst I can’t be sure I may have said the words that the referee reported but if so it was never intended as any homophobic slur; I just said the first words that came to me at the time’.

“On balance, particularly in the absence of firm evidence to contrary, I was persuaded by the evidence of the referee.”

She handed out the minimum sanction for the charge, a six-game ban, along with a £75 fine and six penalty points. Lyons must also complete an online FA education programme before the suspension is served and cannot return to football activity until this is done. The decision is subject to the right of appeal.

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