ANDREW GALE has been handed a further two-match ban by the ECB following his altercation with Lancashire’s Ashwell Prince during the Roses clash last month.

The Yorkshire captain will miss the champion county fixture against the MCC in Abu Dhabi in late March and the first LV= County Championship match of 2015.

Gale, frustrated at South African Prince’s timewasting tactics late on day three, is understood to have sworn at him, told him to get back to his own country and referred to his status as a Kolpak player.

On September 11, Gale was charged with "failing to conduct himself fairly and properly on the field".

He was also charged with "conducting himself in a manner which may be prejudicial to the interests of cricket or which may bring the ECB, the game of cricket or any cricketer or group of cricketers into disrepute".

An ECB statement yesterday read: “The charges were brought in respect of comments made by Mr Gale to an opposing player that caused offence and/or may be perceived as discriminatory as a result of the reference to the nationality of the person to whom they were made.”

The matter was due to be resolved at a formal hearing by the ECB’s Cricket Discipline Commission, although that will now not happen.

The statement continued: “Mr Gale admits that his conduct was improper and contrary to these ECB Directives.

“He acknowledges and deeply regrets that the words he used caused any offence and, in particular, that they could have caused offence as a result of the reference to the nationality of the person to whom they were made.

“Mr Gale wishes to express that this was absolutely not his intention.”

Gale’s punishment has, in effect, been a four-match ban having missed the final two Championship matches of this season. He has also been told to attend an anger management course.

Yorkshire have stood by their skipper throughout this process, strenuously denying any racial intent, and they have yet to make an official statement in response.