A SCOTS worker at Kyrgystan's biggest gold mine faces being deported from the country after comparing its national dish to horse's genitalia.

But it is understood 39-year-old Michael Mcfeat, who faced between three to five years in prison if racial hatred charges were pursued, is to be ejected because of wrong documentation and not because of his joke.

Mr Mcfeat, from Abernethy, Perthshire caused an uproar after posting a picture on social media of Kyrgyz co-workers queuing for a "chuchuk" horsemeat sausage.

He later deleted the post and apologised for its caption.

Michael Mcfeat who works for Canadian mining company Centerra Gold, was detained by police after he posted the comment that offended staff at the mine and led to a temporary strike. It is understood that he was not arrested but only detained for questioning.

Chairman of the Central Committee of the Mining and Metallurgical Union of Kyrgyzstan Eldar Tadzhibaev said: "In evening on January 2, 2016 the work at Kumtor gold mine was stopped due to rash act of a foreign employee.

"On the New Year's Eve... worker Michael Mcfeat, posted comment on his Facebook calling the national dish 'chuchuk' the horse penis, that insults the honour and dignity of the Kyrgyz people.

"It caused a lot of discontent and indignation among local staff, as chuchuk - is one of the most important meals of honor of the Kyrgyz people."

The work at the mine resumed on Sunday after a short strike.

The mine was already at the centre of a dispute between the government and Centerra Gold, which owns the mine.

It understood, according to the Karakol City Court, police found that Mr Mcfeat was not inciting ethnic violence through his comments.

In his Facebook post on December 31, Mr Mcfeat, a welding superintendent, posted a picture of colleagues at the Kumtor gold mine enjoying what he described as a “fantastic Hogmanay feast”.

The post added: “The Kyrgyz people queuing out of the door for there special delicacy the horses penis!!!”

He apologised saying: "I would like to take the opportunity to sincerely apologise for the comment I made on here about the Kyrgyz people and horse's penis.

"I truly never meant to offend anyone and I'm truly sorry as it was never my intention.

"I would also like to say the people in the picture had absolutely nothing to do with it. Again I'm very very sorry."

The British embassy confirmed it was looking into the case.

A spokesman said: “We are in contact with the local authorities after a British national was detained in Kyrgyzstan and are ready to provide consular assistance."

Mr Mcfeat’s family said believed his remarks had been misinterpreted and were intended as “praise.”

John Mcfeat, a 63-year-old farm worker, said his son had meant “nothing bad.” He said: “It was a New Year’s meal and he was praising everything that the chef had done, but it’s just gone crazy. He said it was a lovely meal, with the local delicacy, horse sausage meat, but he put ’horse penis’.

“All we can do is wait, and the Foreign Office will hopefully try and explain that there was no malice in what Michael put, there was nothing derogatory meant. It’s been a terrible start to the new year, to say the least.”

Horse meat, including offal, is a popular delicacy in both Kyrgyzstan and neighbouring Kazakhstan, where nomadic traditions have been revived since the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Kyrgyzstan's government and Centerra have been in talks for about two years on a new agreement which would define their share in the mine's profits, but the negotiations have failed to produce a deal so far.