Barnsley have sent Brek Shea back to Stoke City - three weeks early.
The Sentinel says Shea, who played eight times after joining Barnsley on New Year's Day, was in hot water after gesturing at an angry fan following a 5-0 loss at Huddersfield nine days ago.
Barnsley manager Danny Wilson said: "It's about the fans. What happened was unsavoury and we have to make sure that the situation doesn't escalate or effect the team.
"The fans were fantastic on Saturday and we don't want anything acrimonious.
"No matter what level you play at you will find it difficult, if you insult someone, to turn it round quickly.
"We can't afford to go into a game and have the fans upset with him and not giving him the full support we would expect.
"We put our ear to the ground and listened to fans. We can't have the type of reaction he and Stephen Dawson showed ever again. There were a lot of families in the stand at the time."
