A SECOND Falkirk player has been banned by the Scottish Football Association for making abusive comments to Pars midfielder Dean Shiels.

Joe McKee was yesterday (Tuesday) handed a four-game ban by disciplinary bosses for comments he made during an Irn-Bru Cup meeting in October.

The Bairns midfielder was cited, along with team-mate Kevin O'Hara, under rule 202 that states "no player shall commit excessive misconduct at a match".

O'Hara was suspended for eight games last month for his role in the incident, where both players are believed to have mocked Shiels' missing eye.

McKee was summoned to Hampden on November 16 but, although evidence was taken, it was not completed and continued until yesterday.

The remaining evidence was heard and McKee's punishment was confirmed by the SFA, who stated: "Disciplinary Rule 202 proved. The tribunal imposed a four-match suspension with immediate effect".

Falkirk FC confirmed that their player had been suspended but have made no further comment on the matter.

Northern Irishman Shiels, 32, had an operation to remove his right eye after an accident when he was eight.

The game, which the Pars lost 2-0, saw Shiels sent off for a lunge on McKee in its latter stages.

In the aftermath of O'Hara's ban, Falkirk were forced to apologise after audible taunts directed at Shiels were heared from a section of their support during a televised Irn-Bru Cup game at Inverness Caledonian Thistle.