Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Pavel Kubina may be a little lighter in the wallet after a Czech Extraliga referee successfully sued him for slander.

The incident occurred during the NHL lockout, while Kubina was playing for HC Vitkovice in the Extraliga. After Vitkovice was ousted from the playoffs, Kubina was outspoken in his criticism of the work of referee Petra Bolina. Kubina publicly called the official a "corrupt bastard" and reportedly accused him of taking bribes.

Bolina sued for slander.

The case was decided earlier this week in Ostrava, Czech Republic. Judge Lenka Seveorva ruled in referee Bolina's favor. He compelled Kubina, who did not attend the hearing, to pay 14,000 euros(roughly $17,000) in fines and to make a public apology to Bolina.

"All criticism has some limits and statements such as someone is a 'corrupt bastard’ can’t be perceived as adequate criticism,” the judge told Kubina's attorney, according to Hockeyrefs.com

Although Kubina can easily afford the fine, he has vowed to appeal it on principle. Kubina and his attorney maintain he was just voicing an opinion in the heat of the moment and had the right to do so. He has thus far refused to retract the statement.

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