Dean Brennan, the manager of Barnet FC, has been suspended for nine games after verbally insulting a female referee.
The 45-year-old also made a reference to her gender during his team’s League Two home loss to Shrewsbury on September 6.
Brennan was sent off midway through the first half after a disagreement with referee Kirsty Dowie.
He was eventually charged by the Football Association.
The Barnet manager rejected the charge during a hearing, but an independent committee determined that Brennan deserved the suspension, a £2,000 fine, and participation at a mandatory education session.
The FA viewed Brennan’s accusation of acting improperly by using abusive and/or insulting language against a match official as a ‘aggravated breach’ due to the reference to gender, whether spoken or implied.
The FA has stated that it will disclose the detailed reasons for its judgment in due time.
Brennan’s Statement
In a statement on Barnet’s official website, Brennan denied any misconduct and expressed disagreement with the FA’s decision.Brennan refuted the charge of discrimination made by the FA.While I appreciate the panel’s decision, I disagree with it.
“Football has a place for everyone; it is the finest sport on the planet.
“Personally, football has given me all I have today; I owe it everything.
“It helped me meet my wife and start our family and friends. I am proud of my Irish heritage and how it has shaped my personality.I’d like to thank Lindsay Gordon at The LMA for her help, and my legal representative Craig Harris for his skilled guidance.I’d also like to thank the workers at Barnet Football Club, my Chairman, and the Kleanthous family for their unwavering support at this period.”
Brennan became manager of Barnet in September 2021, while the club was in the National League.
He led them to their return to the EFL last season, and they are currently 11th in League Two.
However, due to the suspension, Brennan will be unable to monitor his squad from the sidelines until the encounter against Cambridge on March 28.
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