LONDON (AFP) - Luton manager Mike Newell was fined 6,500 pounds by the Football Association here following his controversial post-match comments regarding female linesman Amy Rayner in November.

Newell, whose side play in the second tier Championship, was unhappy with Rayner´s officiating after Luton´s 3-2 defeat at home to Queens Park Rangers on November 11 and also queried the role of female match officials in general.

"This is Championship football. This is not park football, so what are women doing here? It is tokenism, for the politically-correct idiots," Newell said.

He added: "She (Rayner) should not be here. I know that sounds sexist, but I am sexist, so I am not going to be anything other than that.

"We have a problem in this country with political correctness, and bringing women into the game is not the way to improve refereeing and officialdom.

"It is absolutely beyond belief. When do we reach a stage when all officials are women, because then we are in trouble?

"It is bad enough with the incapable referees and linesmen we have, but if you start bringing in women, you have big problems."

After being charged with improper conduct - which he denied - and requesting a personal hearing Newell was fined by an FA disciplinary commission.

He was warned and fined 5,000 pounds "for his specific comments about assistant referee Amy Rayner".

Newell also received a further fine of 1,500 pounds for "failing to act in the best interests of the game in that his comments were made about the role of women match officials in football generally".