Terek Grozny will be fined 200,000 roubles ($6,500) and play one match at a neutral venue after Chechnya’s leader called the referee a “sellout” and a “donkey” over a loudspeaker during a recent match, a senior Russian FA official said yesterday.

Initially it was believed the stadium announcer had insulted FIFA referee Mikhail Vilkov after he sent off a Terek player in Sunday’s 0-0 draw against Rubin Kazan, but Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov – Terek’s honorary president – said the words were his.

Half of the fine was levied for “failure to provide for public order and security” and the other half for the cry over the loudspeaker and the stadium announcer’s comments in favour of Terek during the match.

Kadyrov entered the referees’ room after the match, which is against regulations, and his bodyguards prevented a match delegate from entering for several minutes, R-Sport quoted FA disciplinary committee chairman Artur Grigoryants as saying.