Aduana Stars forward Bernard Dong-Bortey has begged the Ghana Football Association’s Disciplinary Committee to reduce his one-year for a physical assault on a referee. The 29-year-old is alleged to have hit out at the centre referee during an FA Cup win over second tier side King Solomon. The former Hearts of Oak star was also charged with inciting the Aduana supporters against the officials for which he was slapped with a 12-month ban on Thursday. Bortey however says his punishment is too excessive considering the real happenings of the game in question. “I think the ban of one-year is just too much,” he said. “Everybody at that game knows I did not hit or punch the referee like people are saying. “The referee took an unjustified foul against me and I just protested so one-year is too much. “If you ban me 7-10 matches I think it’s fine but a whole year? What will become of my football career?” Aduana upon receipt of an official notification over the DC’s decision say they are studying the ruling before deciding on whether to appeal or not. Bortey after a successful spell at giants Hearts of Oak joined the Dormaa-Ahenkro side in 2010 where he help them secure an historic league title.