Donnelly banned for two games for provocative gesture

Jay Donnelly has been ruled out of Glentoran's derby against Linfield on Boxing Day after being handed a two-match suspension for a provocative gesture during the last 'Big Two' meeting between the sides on 3 December.

Donnelly will also miss Saturday's game against Cliftonville at Solitude.

The striker's ban began on 16 December so he would have been scheduled to sit out the BetMcLean Cup quarter-final against Ballymena United on Tuesday night but the postponement of that fixture means he will miss the 26 December encounter at the Oval.

In addition to Donnelly's suspension, the Glens were fined £250 in relation to the incident during their 1-0 victory over the Blues in their BetMcLean Cup last-16 game at Windsor Park.

Donnelly's sanction was imposed in light of Section 17.1 of the Irish Football Association's Disciplinary Code, namely: "A player or official who provokes the general public during a match will be sanctioned with a minimum 2 match standard suspension and a minimum fine of £250 which will be imposed on their club."

Meanwhile Linfield received a £1,000 fine for a breach of Article 28.2 (a), which prohibits "the invasion or attempted invasion of the field of play" during the same match against Glentoran on 3 December.

Glentoran were also handed a £250 fine following the 'Big Two' derby on Friday 22 November at the Oval for the use of flares or fireworks.