NOTTINGHAM Forest manager Billy Davies has been hit with a five-match ban - and he will be in the stands for Forest's trip to Derby County on March 22.
Davies, the former Rams boss, has been punished after he was found guilty of two charges of improper conduct relating to a half-time incident in the City Ground tunnel during the match against Leicester on February 19.
Davies admitted that he had clashed with referee Anthony Taylor, over his decision not to send off former Reds defender Wes Morgan in the first half, when he had conceded a penalty with a foul on Jamie Mackie.
And the Forest boss had admitted one charge, stating that he used abusive and/or insulting words and/or behaviour towards the referee.
He had denied a second charge of improper conduct, which alleged that he deliberately made contact with the referee.
But this charge was also found proven, following an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing today.
As well as the suspension, Davies was also fined £9,000.
The ban will see Davies in the stands for some important fixtures for the Reds.
He will not be in the dugout for the next two away games, at Barnsley and Middlesbrough or the next two home games against Doncaster and Charlton.
And he will be absent in the dugout when Forest travel to the iPro Stadium on Saturday, March 22.
