A referee match observer has been given a nine-week ban after being found guilty of making discriminatory comments before a League One fixture last season.

An independent commission concluded Brian Curson had made discriminatory remarks about people of Asian ethnicity during a conversation in the stadium lounge prior to Luton's match against Rotherham on November 15 last year.

In addition to the ban, Curson was fined £200, ordered to undertake a mandatory education programme and warned as to his future conduct.

The commission was satisfied that Curson had made a remark to the effect that Chinese or Japanese people 'all look the same' in a conversation about fan segregation. 

The match official went on to make a comment and a gesture referencing the height of Chinese or Japanese people.

The commission was concerned Curson had denied the charges despite the 'consistent evidence of four witnesses, who were sure about what was said'.

Curson had also attempted to swerve a sanction by underscoring the length of time between the match late last year, and the first contact from the FA regarding the charge 62 days later.  

The independent commission went on to say the fact two comments were made was an aggravating factor, but took his previous clean disciplinary record in over 40 years working in football into account as mitigation.

Curson was described by the FA of breaching FA Rule E3 with his alleged comments.

This involved acting in 'an improper manner and/or used abusive and/or insulting words, which is contrary to FA Rule E3.1, while he attended an EFL League One fixture between Luton Town and Rotherham United', the statement added. 

'It was further alleged that this constitutes an "Aggravated Breach" which is defined in FA Rule E3.2, as the words included a reference - whether express or implied - to ethnic origin and/or race and/or nationality.'

One of the four witnesses who featured in the hearing alleged that after the incident in the lounge, Curson had acted as if nothing he had said was untoward, despite the ensuing uncomfortable atmosphere in the conversation. 

'There was a bit of an awkward pause and Brian sat with a straight face like nothing had been said out of turn,' the witness was recorded as saying in the sanction's written reasons. 

'We just kind of looked at each other, before the conversation was moved on to a completely different topic.'

Curson's £200 fine reflects the fee he would have earned for observing the match, a role he has undertaken over 959 times in his career.