Northumberland County FA vice-president John Cummings was suspended yesterday for four months after making a sexist comment to a female referee in March.

Referee Lucy May asked Cummings about the possiblity of officiating in the North East Sunday League at a referee workshop earlier this year.

Cummings responded by saying that she “wouldn’t be able to handle it. It’s nothing against you personally but all the time I’m alive, a woman will never referee in my league.”

Cummings denied the conversation with May at first but then told FA investigators: “It’s a standing joke with me. I mean, a woman’s place is in the home and everything so what difference does it make saying it in front of all her colleagues? She should obviously realise it’s a joke.”

He was also hit with £250 fine as well as having to attend an education programme.