Gillingham FC and club chairman Paul Scally have been fined £75,000 each after FA misconduct charges against them were found proven.

Both club and chairman were found to have breached FA rules for "failing to act in the best interests of the game and bringing the game into disrepute" after a former player claimed he was unfairly dismissed due to his race.

Mr Scally, who has also been ordered to attend an education programme, said he was "shocked, stunned and angered" by the decision - which he intends to appeal.

The ruling followed an employment tribunal decision which held that an employee had been unfairly dismissed by the club and that the dismissal was an act of race victimisation by Mr Scally and the club.

Former player Mark McCammon took the Gills to the tribunal in 2012 and won almost £70,000.

The tribunal upheld claims of race victimisation by dismissal, unfair dismissal and unauthorised deduction from wages.

It did not uphold a claim that McCammon’s complaint had been treated unfavourably due to his race.

The ex-striker alleged the club docked his wages, refused him treatment for an injury and fined him for not turning up for training in the snow.

McCammon, who was awarded £68,728, claimed he and other black players were treated differently from white players in the first case of its kind.

After the FA's ruling, Mr Scally said in a statement: "The level of these sanctions is manifestly excessive, totally disproportionate and completely unjust.

"We have been given no reasoned explanation for the severity of the fines. The Club and I will be appealing against this decision and, if necessary, we will take the matter beyond the FA."