A footballer threatened to smash a referee's face in before burying one of his shoes in a toilet bin.

Snodland Town Sunday player William French was banned from football for 147 days after admitting improper conduct towards match official David Boughton.

French was left fuming at the official after being sin binned for comments made over a goal that was disallowed and then got sent off for swearing at the referee, subjecting Mr Boughton to a 20-second expletive-laden tirade.

The referee said he felt threatened by the player and upon returning to his changing room post-match noticed that one of his new astroturf trainers had disappeared. Some time later French owned up to his manager that "in a fit of rage" he had put the shoe in a toilet bin after being allowed into the changing rooms to get dressed following his dismissal.

It was left to home club's secretary Angela Reed to fish the trainer out of "a very manky toilet bin below a load of rubbish, the sort of place you wouldn't want to go."

The FA have released details of the disciplinary case against French following the match at Penenden Heath between home side Invicta FC and Snodland Town Sunday in Division 2 of the Maidstone & Mid Kent Sunday League.

French admitted his guilt after being charged by the FA with improper conduct towards a match official. The FA released a summary of the evidence which led to French's suspension.

The player was sitting it out for a 10-minute duration after being sin binned and French admitted he "got quite angry with the whole situation" and during his period on the sidelines the referee heard the player call him a "f****** w*****" and sent him off.

In his statement, the referee said "he continued a tirade of abuse at me from four yards away, in a very aggressive and threatening manner, he shouted at me, you're a f****** w*****, I'm going to smash your face in at the end of this game, I'm going to smash the f****** windows of your car, you're a f****** c***."

While play continued in the second half French was allowed into the changing room area by the Invicta FC club secretary to get changed.

At the end of the game the referee noticed something was amiss after a "soggy sock" was hanging on the door handle to the referee's room. He then noticed one of his newly acquired astroturf boots was missing. The home secretary confirmed she had opened the changing room to allow French to get changed midway through the second half.

The shoe couldn't be found despite home officials and the referee making an extensive search. French had already left the ground.

It was only after Snodland Sunday manager Lee Battell messaged his players demanding any known information that French admitted he had put the trainer in a bin.

The referee said: "I drove home and after about an hour I had a call from Lee Battell. He confirmed to me 100% that his player William French had gone into the ref's room and stolen my trainer and buried it carefully in the main toilet bin…he buried it so it was difficult to find, under a lot of very nasty waste."

The official added: "This was theft and intimidation."

Mr Boughton added that the earlier 20-second tirade also included a threat "to see me in the f****** car park afterwards." He added: "His body actions and facial expression were intense, he was shouting full blast at me for at least 20 seconds…a couple of times he moved towards me, but his manager and coach were trying to contain his very aggressive nature.

"I felt threatened by the player. Despite his manager telling him to shut up many times, he did not stop.

"I had no idea what this player was capable of. At one stage I thought he may even try and attack me, the tirade went on for so long, as a couple of times he motioned to move towards me."

Play was restarted and the match official let the manager take the player away. French eventually left for the changing rooms.

The referee said the trainer was buried "deep in a very manky toilet bin below a load of rubbish, the sort of place you wouldn't want to go"

Mr French issued a statement as part of the investigation, apologising for his actions and saying that he regretted what he had done.

He said: "Upon being sin binned I got quite angry with the whole situation and in the heat of the moment said some things I shouldn't have done in the direction of the referee who duly gave me a red card. From there I became very emotional.

"I do suffer from some anxiety and anger issues but can normally keep them in check.

"I returned to the dressing rooms alone to get dry and changed out of my kit. Once changed I went to the toilet at the rear of the building which meant passing the referee's dressing room. Still in a fit of rage I picked up a trainer and put it in the bin, I don't really know why I did it and accept it was the wrong thing to do. I then returned to my car where I sat for the majority of the second half trying to calm down. I returned to the side-line right at the end of the game to say well done to my team-mates and then left the ground to return home."

He added: "I apologise to Mr Boughton for my actions and appreciate they were not acceptable. I cannot now change what I have done but have absolutely learnt my lesson."

In a separate statement Mr French had said he thought the referee had been "very one-sided and unfair towards our team…he was shaking his head at my play...In my opinion he was taking a dislike and victimising me."

The commission said that they noted the admission by French to his manager and subsequent remorse, for which limited credit was given. Mitigation was also considered for belated remorse shown and apology to the referee.

In addition to the 147-day ban, French was given a severe warning as to future conduct and fined £80.

As the case relates to a proven case of threatening behaviour towards a match official he is also required to attend an online education course before the suspension is served. There is a right of appeal.