WORCESTER City goalkeeper Dan Jezeph will miss the rest of the season having been walloped with a 150-day ban – a punishment boss John Snape described as “very harsh”.

Jezeph, dual-registered from parent club Tamworth, remonstrated with referee James Cox having shipped the fifth goal in a 6-1 defeat to Westfields on November 24, 2018.

The ex-Walsall custodian was sent off and six days later got charged with improper conduct against a match official including physical contact, violent conduct and threatening and/or abusive language/behaviour. He admitted his guilt.

He was automatically suspended from that point – November 30 – with the 150 days handed down by the Worcestershire FA starting from then and running up to and including Sunday, April 28.

The offence carries a recommended 182-day ban plus up to £150 fine with the minimum being 84 days and a £100 fine.

There is no maximum penalty with the player’s previous record, mitigation and aggravating circumstances taken into account.

It is understood the severity of the sanction centres around Cox reporting that Jezeph had made physical contact with him through their chests bumping together alongside foul and abusive language.

“I have been in football a long time and even this season I have seen people threatening or saying they are going to kill each other, this, that and the other,” said Snape.

“Dan did wrong, I totally agree but the punishment is very harsh on a young lad who is learning his trade and I think the FA should look at that.

“We put in evidence to see what we could do. I know rules are rules and that he cannot do what he did but it was totally out of character.

“I do question whether that ban would have occurred had it been another club in this league and not Worcester City.

“Dan will keep training and going fitness wise. He is a very dedicated boy and I am gutted we won’t have him available because he has been outstanding for us.”

Asked what he could recall of the incident, Snape said: “It was handball (in the build-up to the Westfields goal), he saw that like everyone else in ground did bar the officials.

“He left his box, ran 25 yards and got very close to the referee. He said some things he shouldn’t have and will pay the biggest penalty you could have.”

In an added twist, a spokesperson for the Worcestershire FA confirmed Jezeph would also have to serve the three-match ban picked up for his red card on top.

City’s season ends the day before the 150-day ban finishes and the added three competitive games must be served in line with Worcester's schedule, irrespective of how many fixtures Tamworth have beyond that date.

The 150-day ban covers all football but the three matches after that relate to Saturday football only, meaning Jezeph could play Sunday football after April 28. He will be eligible for non-competitive Saturday fixtures after that date, making him available for pre-season friendlies.

Asked whether Jezeph could still have a future at City, Snape said: “Dan sets his sights very high and we will stay in touch to see what he is doing.

“For now he is training with Tamworth as he has been since the incident happened.

“He has Lee Evans (goalkeeping coach) looking after him there, a good friend of mine, I just hope the lad comes out stronger for it and I think he will do. He will learn his lesson.”

In response to Snape’s comments, a Worcestershire FA spokesperson said: “The punishment would not be any different for another player or another team.

“When we go to a disciplinary commission, we blank out the names of the player and the club so the three people sat on the panel are not aware of who the player in question is at that point.”

Jezeph's right to appeal has passed.