Cherno More Varna defender Sasho Alexandrov has been handed a six-game domestic ban for body-checking a referee during his side's 4-0 Bulgarian Cup loss against Levski Sofia on Sunday.
The 26-year-old - who has a reputation for possessing an aggressive on-field manner, and frequently argues with match officials - was sent off in the 74th minute of the weekend clash, after Levski had been awarded a questionable penalty.
At 3-0, the game was already lost, but that didn't stop Alexandrov from embarking on an overly dramatic appeal.
Sprinting towards referee Stefan Spasov, the furious right-back jumped straight into the onrushing official, knocking him off his feet at onto the floor.
Spasov wasted no time in showing the offender a straight red card, with the Bulgarian football union adding insult to injury by extending the player's ban and fining him 2,500 levs, which equates to just over ã1,000.
Speaking to local media after the game, Alexandrov made a full and unreserved apology for his actions, saying: "I apologise to the referee, it was not on purpose. I was ashamed when he fell."
Watch defender Sasho Alexandrov has been handed a six-game domestic ban for body-checking a referee.