Gillingham are waiting to see whether any action will be taken against midfielder Mark Byrne.

Byrne was sent off during Saturday's 5-1 friendly defeat at Colchester for violent conduct.

He agreed a new deal with the Gills this summer, signing a two-year contract, and is set to be a key man this term but he could miss several games if the Football Association’s disciplinary department deem the incident punishable with a suspension.

Byrne appeared to kick out at Colchester’s Tom Lapslie, reacting to what he felt was an elbow, before a confrontation with home defender Luke Prosser, who manhandled Byrne and could have seen red himself.

The ugly skirmish involved most of the players and both clubs will now have to wait to see if there will be any action taken once the referee files his report.

Dismissals in friendly games don’t automatically mean a suspension for first-team competitive matches, but action can be taken on video evidence.

“Mark felt that he was elbowed first of all for the challenge, then everyone went in," said Gills boss Steve Lovell.

"I don’t know exactly what happened but the referee and linesman said that Mark deserved to be sent off.

"I don’t know what it was all about but Mark is adamant that their fella has grabbed him by the throat.

“If anyone is being sent off, one of their fellas needed to be sent off, too, but we will wait and see.

“I don’t think there was much in it. Hopefully it won’t come to that (a suspension), I don’t think it will.

"It is a pre-season friendly and I am sure they will see that Mark’s record is very good. Hopefully he will be all right.”