Football manager is hit with nine-match ban and £2,000 fine for aiming sexist abuse at female referee

Dean Brennan, manager of League Two club Barnet, has received a nine-game touchline ban and a £2,000 fine after being found to have made sexist comments towards female referee Kirsty Dowle.

Irishman Brennan, 45, denies the charge, which was first revealed in December. He is alleged to have made an offensive remark to Dowle, 34, during Barnet’s defeat by Shrewsbury Town in September.

As well being handed a ban and fine, Brennan must also undergo a mandatory education programme. 

The incident occurred in the first-half of the League Two match, which Shrewsbury won 3-1. Brennan had been sent off by the referee for dissent, which triggered an angry response.

An FA spokesperson said: ‘An independent Regulatory Commission has sanctioned Barnet FC’s Dean Brennan for breaching FA Rule E3 during their EFL League Two fixture on Saturday 6 September 2025 against Shrewsbury Town FC.

‘It was alleged that the manager acted in an improper manner and/or used abusive and/or insulting words towards a match official, contrary to FA Rule E3.1. It was further alleged that this conduct constitutes an “Aggravated Breach”, which is defined in FA Rule E3.2, as it included a reference – whether express or implied – to gender.’

Official Kirsty Dowle (pictured) sent Brennan off in a League Two match in September, when the incident occurred

Barnet released a statement of their own on Thursday, which included a message from Brennan himself.

Brennan said: ‘Throughout this case I have categorically denied the FA charge of discrimination. Whilst the panel have come to their conclusion, which I have to respect, I do not agree with their decision.

‘There is a place in football for everyone, it’s the greatest sport on the planet. Personally, football has given me everything I have today; I owe football everything. It enabled me to meet my wife and create our family and friends.

‘This made me the person I am today, whilst staying true to my Irish heritage, of which I am extremely proud. I’d like to thank Lindsay Gordon at the League Managers Association for all her support and I’d like to thank my legal representative Craig Harris for his support and expert guidance.

‘I’d also like to thank the staff at Barnet Football Club, my chairman and The Kleanthous family for their full support throughout this time. A special thanks goes to my wife and family, I love you all.

‘Live for today, learn from yesterday, look forward to tomorrow. God Bless.’

Brennan has been in charge of Barnet since 2021, having also been manager of Billericay Town and Wealdstone. As a player, he featured for the likes of Luton, Stevenage, and Wimbledon.

He will not return to the dugout with Barnet until they play Cambridge United on March 28. Barnet are 11th in the fourth tier. 

Since 2013, the minimum ban for proven cases of discrimination has been five games. It relates to cases surrounding racism, homophobia, or other discriminatory language or behaviour.