Footballer who launched sectarian tirade against James McClean hit with record ban

Kirk Broadfoot has been banned for 10 games for launching a sectarian tirade against James McClean.

The 30 year old defender verbally abused McClean back in March at the New York stadium, in the Championship fixture between Rotherham and Wigan Athletic. The ban is the longest in English football history for an act of verbal abuse, the sixth longest ever imposed by the Football Association and even longer than the eight game ban Luis Suarez received when found guilty of racially abusing Patrice Evra in 2011. Broadfoot is a Protestant, former Rangers player and Scottish international, from the Ayrshire region of the country. While McClean is a Catholic from Creggan in Derry, a strong nationalist area, who has garnered controversy with some in the past due to his political beliefs, and refusal to wear the Remembrance Day poppy. The details of exactly what Broadfoot said to McClean haven't been disclosed, as there is reportedly a confidentially clause in the case that prohibits those involved from publicly discussing it. Broadfoot has also been fined £7,500, and the defender will be made complete an education programme as part of the charge. H/T BBC Sport.