An amateur footballer who was given a police caution for assaulting a referee has been handed a lifetime ban.

Cornard United player Nicky Guyon, 39, was found guilty of assault, punished with a lifetime suspension and fined £250 by a Suffolk Football Association disciplinary panel in Ipswich on Friday after hitting referee Maurice Cook, 43, during a Ridgeons league first division match between Cornard and Stanway Rovers on January 8.

Police were called to United's Blackhorse Lane ground when Mr Cook abandoned the game in the 65th minute of the game.

The incident happened after Guyon was shown a red card following a disputed penalty decision that was given in Stanway Rovers' favour.

Guyon can appeal to a national FA appeals body against his lifetime ban from amateur football although it is not clear at this stage whether he will choose to pursue such a course.

Mr Cook and Mr Guyon were unavailable for comment yesterday.

Published Tuesday, March 1, 2005

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