No response to an FA charge of "barging into an assistant referee" was no defence for a player who got hit with a 154-day suspension.

Harry Thompson was playing for Kent County League, Premier Division side Red Velvet at Otford United early on in the season when a red card for the player led to an accusation of making contact with a match official.

The referee submitted an extraordinary report regarding Mr Thompson's misconduct which was investigated by the London FA. The player was charged by the Football Association with improper conduct against a match official but no response was ever submitted, despite plenty of communication between the club and the footballing authority and extended deadlines.

According to documents released following an FA Disciplinary Commission, it was alleged that Mr Thompson, upon being dismissed, "made contact with the assistant referee by way of an action interpreted as a shoulder barge by the match official, or action similar to this."

The deadline required to respond came and went and, according to the commission's report, the club stated that "the player suffers from a condition and there has been difficulty in contacting the player and gaining a response."

Statements were submitted by the referee and the assistant, whom physical contact allegedly took place.

The referee's report said that "during the dismissal of Harry Thompson, he was making his way off the pitch and whilst doing so barged into the assistant referee."

The assistant referee stated that Mr Thompson had been sent off in the 81st minute for a second bookable offence and noted that: "He came towards me shouting and swearing about an incident that had happened a couple of minutes earlier.

"I said I was not prepared to discuss it at this time and asked him to calm down and leave the pitch. He then barged past me striking his shoulder against mine.

"There was no great force involved but it was an intentional action. I then alerted the referee to the incident. The player by this time had made his way to the changing rooms."

The London FA discussed the alleged offence over a number of emails with Red Velvet officials, who were reminded of their "vicarious liability" for anyone associated with the club.

The FA made several extensions to the deadline for an official response from the player, offering additional support if needed, and with none forthcoming, accepted it as a denial.

The report noted the assistant referee's description of the "barge" being of "no great force but was an intentional action."

It was accepted, by the commission, that the London FA had done all they could to assist and allow the player to provide a response through a third party. The representative from Red Velvet stated: "This charge is so wrong (it's) making out he's attacked the linesman when all he has done is brushed past him" and added it is for them (The FA) to prove.

The commission believed on the balance of probability the action of physical contact with the assistant referee did take place.

Mr Thompson had previous misconduct offences which the FA considered when coming to their decision, banning the player for five months from all football activity, from the date of September 28, along with an £85 fine. The player has to complete a face-to-face education programme before he can return to play. The decision was subject to an appeal.