Cowdenbeath player Dean Brett has been handed an immediate four match ban following a SFA investigation into alleged offensive tweets.
The 24-year-old, who has already been suspended from the Fife club amid gambling claims, was found In breach of the SFA’s disciplinary rules on social media and will serve an immediate suspension.
The defender has also been given a further four-game ban which has been suspended for 12 months.
His club last night confirmed that the SFA had investigated complaints from two organisations concerned with equality issues over Brett’s Twitter account – specifically in relation to alleged offensive messages posted on the site.
A Cowdenbeath spokesperson said: “Following a hearing at Hampden Park, the Tribunal found that between May 23 2016 and November 5 2016 Dean made comments upon a social networking site, namely Twitter, that were of a discriminatory, and offensive nature, based upon sexual orientation as well as comments that were otherwise of an offensive nature.
“Thus Dean Brett was in breach of Disciplinary Rule 73 of the SFA’s Disciplinary Rules.
“The outcome now is that an eight-match suspension will apply as follows – four matches immediate.
“Thereafter four matches suspended for 12 months and to only take effect in the event that Dean commits a further breach of Disciplinary Rule 73 before January 16 2018; and/or the Tweets agreed by the parties at the hearing of January 16 2017 as having breached Disciplinary Rule 73 are not removed by Dean Brett from his Twitter account by 5pm on January 17 2017; and/or Dean fails to produce evidence, before January 16 2018 to the Judicial Panel Secretary that he attended training upon a) the use of social media and b) Equality issues.”
Brett is already being investigated by the SFA over an alleged 2,787 bets he placed on football matches, which breaches SFA rules.
Eight of the bets were said to be against his own team.
Brett’s partner Gemma Porteous died of cancer in January 2015 aged just 22, four months after their daughter Mollie passed away.
However, Brett has stated in interviews that his gambling problem had started prior to those traumatic events and did not wish to use that as any excuse.
After the betting revelations emerged earlier this week, Brett posted on social media: “Cowdenbeath is a great club and does a lot for every player. Lucky to be there and hopefully I will still be there in years to come.
“I’ll accept what’s given to me and get on with it. Had better times but also had worst so this won’t stop me.”
