A football linesman has been found guilty of 'aggravated improper conduct' after a team's players walked off during a game in response to alleged racist comments he made towards a player.
The Football Association said an independent regulatory commission found the charge against him proven after a hearing.
An FA investigation was launched after a league game between Wythenshawe Town FC and Warrington-based Rylands FC in January.
Chris Eaton, Wythenshawe's chairman, told the M.E.N. the alleged comments were directed by the linesman towards one of his club's players and said they were overheard by other players sat in the dug-out and the team's manager.
As a result, Mr Eaton said the club took the decision to bring the players off the pitch.
Both teams play in the First Division South of the Hallmark Security Football League and the visitors were leading 3-0 at the time.
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Mr Eaton said complaints were made to the referee and the walk-off led to the match being abandoned - a decision he said the club stood by.
The Manchester FA, announcing the results of the hearing, said its written reasons would be published in due course.
Wythenshawe Town's manager was also charged with improper conduct and the FA said he accepted the case against him. It's not known whether the charge relates to the team leaving the field of play.
Asked if the 'aggravated' element of the linesman's charge related to the alleged racist comments, Manchester FA said it couldn't comment further than a statement in either case.
No sanctions have been revealed.
The statement read: "Following a match between Wythenshawe Town and Rylands on January 26, 2019, which resulted in an abandonment, an alleged incident was reported to Manchester FA.
"After a full investigation, an assistant referee was charged with an 'aggravated' breach of FA Rule E3 and Wythenshawe Town's manager was charged with a breach of FA Rule E3.
"An Independent Regulatory Commission found the charge involving the assistant referee proven and the Wythenshawe Town manager accepted his charge.
"All charges are subject to a 7-day appeal period and the written reasons in relation to this case will be published by The Football Association in due course.
"Manchester FA takes all allegations of this nature very seriously and strongly condemns discrimination of any kind."
Mr Eaton however has hit out after claiming the linesman involved was allowed to continue officiating games despite the FA investigation.
Manchester FA said suspensions were reserved for physical acts of violence.
Mr Eaton told the M.E.N. he had seen video footage of the same linesman in a recent game, and said: "I find it strange that suspension only applies to violence - that if you use racist language you will not be suspended. Most companies would suspend someone ahead of a full hearing in that situation.
"If I heard someone using racist language in the ground I would be expected to eject that person straight away, which would be right.
"We are trying to work together but the FA do not make it easy. Respect works both ways."
Mr Eaton admitted the club was facing possible sanctions over the walk-off but said: "We have not done anything wrong.
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"We took our players off the field of play because we were unhappy with what we were hearing."
The development comes as racism within football continues to make headlines.
England players were subjected to racist chanting during the Euro 2020 qualifying match in Montenegro and Manchester City's Raheem Sterling, who was also allegedly racially abused during the Chelsea game at Stamford Bridge last December, has spoken out repeatedly.
Tottenham Hotspur and England defender Danny Rose said last week he couldn't wait to see the back of football as a result of racism in the game.
And the M.E.N. revealed the Cheshire FA is investigating allegations of racist comments directed towards players by their opponents during an under-13s junior match in south Manchester. It is alleged that one player was called a 'p***' by an opponent.
The league meanwhile confirmed the abandonment was 'due to alleged racial comments made to players'.
They said in a statement: "As is the case with matters of this nature, we refer these to the relevant County Football Associations to investigate and in turn they liaise with the FA. The league is not responsible for any discipline outcomes that result from any investigations."
Wythenshawe Town was founded in 1946 as North Withington Amateur Football Club.
Last year they secured promotion to the Hallmark Security North West Counties League South Division.
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