A veteran referee match observer has been handed a nine-week ban and a £200 fine after an independent commission found him guilty of making discriminatory comments ahead of an EFL League One match last season.

According to Daily Mail, Brian Curson made the offensive remarks about people of Asian ethnicity inside a stadium lounge prior to Luton Town’s fixture against Rotherham United on November 15 last year.

In addition to the suspension and fine, which equals his match fee for the day, Curson must complete a mandatory education program and has been warned over his future conduct.

During a conversation regarding fan segregation, Curson stated that Chinese or Japanese people “all look the same,” before making a further remark and physical gesture mocking their height.

The Football Association charged Curson with an “Aggravated Breach” under FA Rule E3.2 for using insulting words referencing race, nationality, or ethnic origin. Although Curson denied the charges and tried to argue against sanctions due to a 62-day delay in being contacted by the FA, four witnesses provided consistent accounts of the incident.

“There was a bit of an awkward pause and Brian sat with a straight face like nothing had been said out of turn,” one witness stated in the commission’s written report.

While making two separate discriminatory comments acted as an aggravating factor, the commission considered Curson’s clean disciplinary record across more than 40 years and over 959 games as an observer when deciding the final punishment.