Former Motherwell manager Mark McGhee has been handed a six-match touchline ban, Press Association Sport understands.

The Scotland assistant manager was the subject of a Scottish Football Association disciplinary hearing following his dismissal in a 7-2 defeat by former club Aberdeen at Pittodrie last month.

McGhee, who was sacked less than two weeks later, has been given a five-match ban, while a suspended one-match ban from earlier in the season was also triggered.

The 59-year-old had been handed a misconduct charge which alleged he used "offensive, abusing and/or insulting language and gestures'' and ''adopted aggressive behaviour'' towards a match official.

McGhee would have to serve the ban if he joins another club's coaching staff but it will not affect him on Scotland duty.

The then Motherwell boss was sent to the stand by referee Alan Muir on the basis of fourth official John McKendrick's advice. He claimed to be the victim of an injustice and accused McKendrick of having an "agenda" against him, but the Brighton-based manager is not believed to have attended the hearing.

After the game on February 15, McGhee declared himself ''absolutely disgusted and horrified by the attitude of the fourth official'' and added: ''Before a ball was kicked, he was causing issues that didn't exist.''

After being sent to the stand, the former Aberdeen player and manager angrily ordered a fan to stop filming him on his mobile phone. The footage was widely shared on social media.

McGhee was sitting on a suspended one-match ban after admitting using "offensive, abusing, and/or insulting language'' towards referee John Beaton and a steward at Dens Park earlier this season. He had blamed an ''overzealous bouncer'' for the dispute in the tunnel but he served a two-match ban.