The owner of the defending I-League champions Minerva Punjab has also been fined Rs 10 Lakh...

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has slapped a one-year ban and a hefty fine of Rs 10 Lakh on Minerva Punjab owner Ranjit Bajaj after he was found guilty of making racist remarks against a referee.

The incident happened during the U-18 Youth League playoff match between Minerva Punjab and Aizawl FC that ended 1-1 at the JLN Stadium in Shillong on May 12. According to the disciplinary committee chaired by Ushanath Banerjee, Bajaj hurled racial comments and abuses against the referee Pynskhemhame Mawthoh.

"The Committee holds Bajaj guilty of committing serious gross acts of infringements and imposes with a sanction of suspension of 12 months," the disciplinary committee announced, as reported by PTI. The suspension means that Bajaj can't enter the stadium or take part in football-related activities for tournaments conducted by the AIFF.

The club owner has also been fined Rs 10 Lakh and has 10 days to pay the fine. "In default of which, suspension and the ban shall continue for the delayed period over and above 12 months, till payment in full," said AIFF disciplinary committee said in the report.

"Bajaj acted like a criminal indulging in series of hooliganism, abusing the match officials in filthy languages, threatening them openly, making racist remarks against the Match Officials. Certainly, none of these can be equated with an educated guardian of a sports club," the report added.