Nottingham Forest coach Steven Reid given two-game ban for abusing referee

The incident occurred during a last-gasp Premier League defeat to Liverpool. 

Nottingham Forest first team coach Steven Reid. Picture: Mike Egerton/PA Wire.

Nottingham Forest have been fined £75,000 and coach Steven Reid handed a two-match touchline ban by the Football Association for their behaviour after the defeat to Liverpool earlier this month.

The club admitted a charge of failing to "ensure its players and technical area occupants did not behave in an improper way" after the last-gasp Premier League loss on March 2.

Forest were incensed after referee Paul Tierney did not return the ball to them after a head injury to Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate, with the Reds going on to score an injury-time winner moments later.

Former Ireland international Reid was found to have called Tierney a c*** on at least three occasions, according to the written reasons of an independent commission.

That behaviour has earned him a two-match touchline suspension as well as a £5,000 fine, with the commission rejecting the defence that Tierney's incorrect application of the rules led to an emotional situation.

An FA statement read: "An independent regulatory commission has sanctioned Nottingham Forest and Steven Reid following their Premier League game against Liverpool on Saturday 2 March.

"The club admitted that it failed to ensure its players and technical area occupants did not behave in an improper way after the final whistle. The independent regulatory commission imposed a £75,000 fine following a subsequent hearing.

"The coach admitted that his language towards a match official which led to him being sent off was abusive and insulting. Steven Reid denied that he acted in an improper manner and/or used abusive and/or insulting language towards a match official after being sent off.

"The independent regulatory commission found the second charge to be proven and it imposed a two-match extended touchline suspension and £5,000 fine following the hearing."

This is the fourth occasion in the last 18 months that Forest have been sanctioned for surrounding a match official.