Colm Kearney signed for Larne during the summer

The County Antrim FA has imposed the ban which is scheduled to officially begin on Monday.

It is understood that Kearney was accused of striking a referee with a ball during a game between Newcastle Seconds and Rossclare in April.

Larne chairman Sam McCready says his club will support Kearney's appeal.

"This is absolutely unbelievable. You couldn't make it up," McCready told BBC Sport.

"Kearney has nothing but completely professional since he joined us. He's very popular in the dressing-room and very popular with the fans.

"He's a very, very good player and we will be doing everything we possibly can to support him."

Kearney had been sent-off in the game and sources claim he was playing with a ball near the pitch when a confrontation between him and a Newcastle supporter occured.

The player is believed to have thrown the ball at a spectator but instead it struck the referee as he approached the touchline to ask supporters to stop encroaching on the pitch.

The initial match report didn't cite any particular person involved in the incident that lead to the abandonment.

However, it is understood the Newcastle club later named Kearney during an investigation staged by the Newcastle League.

The player was initially banned for five years but upon appeal the IFA's disciplinary committee lifted the suspension and the Newcastle club was fined �100.

Now the Co Antrim FA has arrived at a second disciplinary decision to ban the player - who has been an instant hit at Inver Park - for three years until May 2009.

Kearney will be able to continue playing for Larne until an appeal hearing takes place.