Rotherham defender Kirk Broadfoot has been banned for 10 matches after a misconduct charge against him was found proven by the Football Association.
The incident occurred during a Sky Bet Championship clash between the Millers and Wigan on March 14 of this year.
An Independent Regulatory Commission hearing deemed the Scot had “used abusive/and or insulting words towards a member of the opposition, in breach of FA Rule E3(1).”
An FA statement added: “It was further alleged that the breach was an ‘Aggravated Breach’ as defined by Rule E3(2).”
Broadfoot, 30, was also fined £7,500 and ordered to complete an education programme.
It is reported that the incident involved James McClean, recently transferred to West Brom, with the player unhappy at the award of a free-kick which he felt the Republic of Ireland international had dived to win.
Wigan scored from the resulting free-kick, and after that game Broadfoot told the Sheffield Star: “He’s cheating. That is cheating. I am nowhere near him and he’s diving.”
Details of exactly what else the former Rangers player may have said to McClean, who famously refused to wear a Remembrance Day poppy, have not been disclosed.
The ban is a record for verbal abuse in English football, beating the eight games handed to Luis Suarez when he was found guilty of racially abusing Patrice Evra in December 2011.