Northumberland FA vice president John Cummings has informed the Football Association that he will appeal a four-month ban for an alleged sexist remark, according to Sky Sports News HQ sources.

Cummings was found guilty by an Independent Regulatory Commission on October 17 of using ‘discriminatory language’ in March towards Lucy May, a female referee development officer.

The full written reasons have been published by the Northumberland FA.

Cummings was alleged to have remarked, during a break at a Cup Final Officials Workshop on March 17: “It’s nothing against you personally but all the time I’m alive, a women will never referee on my league.”

When asked “why?” by May, he allegedly responded, before walking away: “Because you would not be able to handle it. A woman’s place is in the kitchen and not on a football field.”

According to May, Cummings’ remarks were said “without any kind of humour in his voice and [that he] appeared to be completely serious.”

Cummings denied the charge and it is understood that he requested the matter was handled in correspondence only and not a personal hearing.

But a Commission found that he had broken FA Rule E3 and Cummings had used “abusive and/or insulting words towards The Northumberland County FA’s Referee Development Officer. It is further alleged that this breach is an Aggravated Breach as it included a reference to gender.”

Cummings was suspended from all football activity for four months, fined £250 and ordered to attend an education course arranged by the FA and completed before the end of his suspension.

Clive Oliver, Northumberland FA chief executive said in a statement: “All participants in sport have the right of appeal and whilst this window is still open we cannot comment on individual cases however I and Northumberland FA fully support anti-discrimination in all forms which has no place in sport. Football is an inclusive environment open to all.”