At an Appeal Board hearing today, the £100,000 fine imposed on players' agent Jonathan Barnett by a Disciplinary Commission on 26 September was upheld.

The suspension of his licence imposed by the same Commission was reduced from 18 months to 12 months. The first four months of the suspension are currently effective, having commenced on 16 October, and run until 15 February 2007.

Barnett will therefore be unable to act as a players’ agent for the January 2007 transfer window.

The other eight months are suspended on condition that he does not, within the 12-month period, breach any FA Rule. If Barnett is found by an FA Disciplinary Commission to have breached any FA Rule within the 12-month period, that Disciplinary Commission will have the discretion to activate in whole or in part that eight-month period of suspension.

Barnett was found guilty of two counts of misconduct under FA Rules in connection with a meeting involving his client Ashley Cole and representatives of Chelsea FC at the Royal Park Hotel on 27 January 2005. He subsequently appealed against the sanction imposed by the Commission but not against the guilty verdict.

For the full September Disciplinary Commission statement, click here