A TEENAGE soccer player has been kick out of football for six months for assaulting a referee with a Paulo Di Canio-style shove.

The Kent County Football Association said the 17-year-old from Maidstone, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had been barred until the end of October.

Bearsted FC, one of the Maidstone area’s most senior and respected clubs, has been warned about its future conduct after the incident during an under-18s youth match between Bearsted and Chatham on April 27.

Bearsted chairman Mike Anthony said the boy had admitted pushing the referee after he was sent off, but had denied head-butting the match official.

“We had a sort of Di Canio incident,” said Mr Anthony. Di Canio incurred a long suspension for pushing referee Paul Alcock to the ground when he was playing for Sheffield Wednesday.

The Bearsted player was sent off after receiving two yellow cards. A Chatham player was also sent off in the match.

The player was fined £25 and the club fined £100, three-quarters of which will not be imposed if the club behaves itself until the end of next season.

Under-18s Team manager Chris Hunt was also found guilty of behaving in an improper manner and fined £100, £50 of which was suspended.

Mr Anthony said: “Chris Hunt was incensed at the referee because he thought he made a lot out of what happened. He held up his hands and said ‘my behaviour left something to be desired'".

The Bearsted chairman said the club made every effort to ensure players behaved themseleves but said the behaviour of professional players filtered down to the junior game. The club had posted notices reminding players of the importance of good behaviour and of not arguing with referees, he stressed.