Crawley Town’s Paul Connolly has been suspended for five matches, subject to any appeal, following an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing today [Tuesday 15 April].
Connolly was charged with violent conduct against a spectator in the 90th minute of the game against Brentford on 8 April 2014. The incident was not seen by the match officials but caught on video.
Further to this, The FA claimed the standard punishment of a three-match suspension would be clearly insufficient given the nature of the offence.
Connolly accepted the charge but denied the standard punishment was clearly insufficient.
However, the Independent Regulatory Commission found in favour of The FA and ordered that Connolly be suspended for five matches, commencing with immediate effect.