Mike Harris became The New Saints owner in 1997 when they were based in the village of Llansantffraid
The New Saints chairman Mike Harris has been punished by the Football Association of Wales for a social media post on 9 August 2019.
The comment came during a Twitter exchange with former Connah's Quay Nomads owner Gary Dewhurst.
Harris asked: "When you going to come out of the closet on being chairman Connah's queers?"
An FAW panel imposed a 10-game ban, suspended unless he commits a similar offence before 1 January 2021.
Welsh football's governing body also imposed an unspecified fine, half of which is suspended unless there is a repeat, also until 1 January 2021.
Harris gave his reaction to the FAW ruling on BBC Radio Wales' Call Rob Phillips programme.
"I probably could have used one different word," Harris said. "None of the words are offensive in any shape, manner or form, but probably with Twitter with the short form it would attract people's eye and could be read in a different way.
The Twitter conversation in which Mike Harris made his comments has since been deleted
"What I'm more concerned about is the dangerous precedent that it's now set for the FAW because it said it was words that could offend somebody.
"You could be very innocently writing a line - particularly on things like Twitter or Facebook - where you're using not swear words or defamatory words and then somebody decides in the FAW disciplinary group those words might offend somebody, and off they go and charge you."
Harris was charged in accordance with paragraph 4.3 of the FAW's social media regulations,, external which reads: "Any member and/or subordinate who posts, on any social media platform, a post which is deemed to be of a discriminatory nature, as defined by section 3.1 of the non-discrimination regulations, may be charged pursuant to the non-discrimination regulations."
Section 3.1 of the non-discrimination regulations, external states: "Any member and/or subordinate who offends the dignity of a person, group of persons or any country, either directly or indirectly through contemptuous, discriminatory or denigratory words or actions concerning, but not limited to;
3.1.1. age;
3.1.2. disability;
3.1.3. gender;
3.1.4. gender reassignment;
3.1.5. skin colour;
3.1.6. race;
3.1.7. religion or belief;
3.1.8. sex;
3.1.9. sexual orientation;
3.1.10. language;
3.1.11. ethnic, natural or social origin;
3.1.12. political opinion; or
3.1.13. wealth
shall be sanctioned by the FAW.
Read the FAW's published ruling using this link., external
