The powers that be at USL League One were as harsh on Lansing Ignite coach Nate Miller as the comments he made about the officials on Saturday.

The league on Wednesday suspended Miller for three matches and fined him an undisclosed amount for "disparaging comments" made following Saturday's 2-2 draw with FC Tucson.

Miller will miss Friday's match against Toronto FC II, South Georgia Tormenta (July 27) and Chattanooga Red Wolves SC (July 31).

Lansing Ignite said it will appeal the ruling.

"While we do not condone his comments, Lansing Ignite FC plans to appeal the penalties levied in Wednesday's USL League One Discipline Report that calls for a multi-game suspension and an undisclosed fine following the club's draw against FC Tucson," the club tweeted Wednesday afternoon.

Communications Manager Aaron Cranford said the club would be making no further comments.

Miller will not be allowed to coach in a game during the appeal process. The league is expected to rule on the appeal before Friday's game.

Miller's comments from Saturday stem from a penalty awarded to Tuscon in the 52nd minute when Rhys Williams was called for a handball in the box. The replay appeared to show that Williams' hand was nowhere near the ball.

On top of that, the go-ahead goal vs. Chattanooga in the 68th minute on July 6 was called off for an offside call on Pato Botello Faz, a decision which, when watching the video, looked to also be an incorrect call.

After two potential wins - and four points in the standings - slipped away from Lansing, Miller unleashed his thoughts.

"The refereeing in this league has been absolutely horrific and our team has paid for it," Miller said. " ... I think they should stop experimenting on our league and start sending us half-decent officials.

"My biggest problem with this is, if a fourth official is telling the (referee) through his headset that it's a handball on Tucson, and he's the one that saw it, and (the referee's) the one that doesn't respond and use that credible resource, it makes no sense.

"The head official after the game just said, 'I'm sorry.' The problem is, before he let the penalty happen, he already knew (it wasn't a handball). So it means he doesn't have the capacity or the character to change his call. The fourth official told him through the mic, I was standing right there, that it was a handball on Tucson. It's terrible. It's absolutely awful."

The head referee in question from Saturday, Gabriele Giusti, will hold the same position once again Saturday in the Richmond-Orlando City B match.

The State Journal's request for comment from Professional Referee Organization, which assigns referees and officials for MLS and USL matches, has not been returned.

Miller will be allowed in the stadium for the three matches, he just won't be on the touchline. Each team has a designated area for suspended players/coaches, usually in the press box.

Earlier in the season, Miller was suspended for the July 6 match vs. Chattanooga after getting ejected at North Texas SC on June 29.

One of Lansing's three assistant coaches — Tim Daniels, Joel DeLass or Wael Zenga — will be the interim coach while Miller serves the suspension.

Contact digital sports reporter Phil Friend at 517-377-1220 or pfriend@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @Phil_Friend.