A half-time verbal attack on a referee has led to a seven-game ban despite the accused insisting he never used any aggravating language.

Ian Aalpol remonstrated with match referee Christopher Minter after the official went for a drink's break at the interval of the Kent Sunday Junior Trophy match between Rochester Eagles and Thamesview Rangers.

Mr Aalpol, who was connected to Rochester, was watching the game but angered over a penalty decision. Following the exchange, he was charged twice for improper conduct, the second aggravated because of a comment that referred to faith/religion after it was alleged he said "******* Yid" towards the referee.

The word Yid can be an offensive term used towards a Jewish person.

A report from the referee was sent to the Kent FA and disciplinary charges began.

Mr Aalpol admitted the first charge of improper conduct but despite a vehement denial of the second aggravated charge it was proven by the FA's discipline commission on the balance of probability.

He was suspended from all football for seven qualifying matches, to include a ground ban and fined £70. He was also ordered to undertake the online FA Equality & Diversity Module before the completion of his ban and if he fails to do so within that timescale he is to be suspended from all football activity until such time as he is in compliance with this order.

Mr Minter said he was followed to his car by a person connected with Rochester and was "verbally attacked" over his decision to award a penalty to Thamesview just before the interval. He was informed the man was Ian Aalpol.

In a statement, Mr Minter said: "I was very surprised he followed me all the way. I walked back towards the pitch where he continued to complain about my decision. I did not feel unsafe but he would not stop complaining despite me telling him to go away.

"The teams knew I was (going) up to watch Tottenham Hotspur after the match and I clearly heard him say the words towards me "******* Yid". I'm not Jewish but he did not know that.

"After the match I came out of the changing room he was walking towards the car park and was singing a song about 'There's no Bacon at the Lane'...a reference to Jewish people not eating pork...".

Medway Area Sunday League vice chairman Ken Keating was watching the game and provided evidence, witnessing Mr Aalpol pursuing the referee to his car. He said: "After a few minutes the referee returned saying that the person had been abusive to him and was going to report him then we were joined by I think the manager who also told the person go away."

In his statement, Mr Aalpol said he "light heartedly told the referee 'I hope he misses the Tottenham game'. No comments that label the word discrimination were made."

Defending himself, Mr Aalpol said: "I cannot begin to tell you how offensive of a word this is and how wrongly mistaken he is that he heard this.

"I am from a Dutch family with Jewish relations and many Jewish friends, family of mine and family friends of mine died in concentration camps...the last thing I would do is use such word that is of a offensive manor...the only time this word...was said was when Mr Minter said and I quote "can we kick off 10 minutes early because I'm a Yid and I'm going to the game.

"I will admit to shouting foul language out when the penalty was awarded out of frustration that this was a poor decision, I will hold my hands up to that...when I am accused of saying the y word, Vince Swan was there, he has not put this in his witness statement because he didn't hear such a thing was said as it wasn't..."

Several others defended Mr Aalpol, although there was no evidence from Mr Swan. Five witnesses provided submissions in his defence and stated that they didn't hear the Yid work spoken. The commission in their summary stated that it has probably been said when Mr Aalpol and Mr Minter had not been near other people.

They accepted his guilty plea for charge one and on the balance of probability determined that charge two was proven, saying there was "no reason to reject or discount Mr Minter's version of events."

There is a right of appeal against the decisions.