Urs Meier received death threats after England's Euro 2004 exit

Flybe had sent out an e-mail advert directing people to "leave feedback" on the website of referee Urs Meier, who had disallowed a late England goal.

Two people complained to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) that the advert incited harassment.

The ASA upheld the complaints, branding the ad "irresponsible and offensive".

The e-mail had featured a cartoon of a man screaming and beating the ground, with the words: "We was robbed!"

It added: "As a mark of respect to our lads, and some of the worst refereeing in years, we have suspended services to Switzerland, his home country.

"We may think about bringing them back next year, but we won't be flying Referee Meier for a while!"

Police protection

The complaints to the ASA had said the advert "made a joke of racist attitudes and would incite recipients to harass Urs Meier".

British European, which runs Flybe, denied the e-mail was racist and said it had reflected the mood of the nation "in a humorous way".

It added that media organisations had also published Mr Meier's website address following England's penalty shoot-out defeat in Lisbon in June.