Harry Pell: AFC Wimbledon midfielder handed one-match ban for kicking balls at MK Dons fans

Harry Pell admitted he had deliberately kicked balls into the away stand in AFC Wimbledon's match against bitter rivals MK Dons

AFC Wimbledon midfielder Harry Pell has been banned for one match for repeatedly kicking balls at MK Dons fans during the warm-up to the rivals' League Two clash earlier this month.

The 32-year-old admitted the Football Association's misconduct charge in Wimbledon's 1-0 win at Plough Lane.

Pell also received a £1,000 fine for his actions.

Both clubs have been fined for a mass confrontation between players and team members on both benches at full-time.

The home side received an £8,000 fine, which they are appealing, while the Milton Keynes club were given a fine of £2,500 for their part in the altercation on Saturday, 2 March.

Pell said his shots into the crowd "were not struck with power but were intended more as a playful response to the verbal abuse from some of the spectators," in a letter to the FA on 12 March.

He added that sending the ball into the stands was a "rush of blood" reaction and "on mature reflection, I should have simply ignored the shouts and got on with my warm-up."

The independent Regulatory Commission investigating the incident said it was likely one of his shots hit an 11-year-old girl in the crowd.

"His actions had been irresponsible, particularly given the history of the two clubs involved and the sensitive and potentially volatile nature of the match," the commission's findings said.

The commission also said it found Wimbledon to be "largely, if not solely to blame" for the events after the final whistle.

It concluded home players Lee Brown, Isaac Ogundere, James Ball and Ronan Curtis caused the melee by goading the travelling fans following Curtis' added-time winner, sparking a reaction from the bench.

Both clubs are currently in the League Two play-off places, with MK Dons fourth and Wimbledon seventh in the table.