LONDON — The harshest punishment soccer players can usually expect for berating a referee is a suspension or fine — not 24 weeks in jail.

But then most players don’t respond to the threat of a red card by driving a car on the field and at the official.

Amateur player Joseph Rimmer thought he was about to be penalized by referee David Harkness during a game in February in northwest England, so he told him: “If you book me or send me off, you know what will happen.”

Rimmer stormed off, fetched his Range Rover and drove it across the grass. Harkness was not hurt.

Rimmer, , who works as fitness instructor and nightclub doorman, was sentenced in Liverpool Tuesday.