Liverpool’s Luis Suárez handed one-game ban and fined £20,000

Luis Suárez has been banned for one game by the Football Association and fined £20,000 for a gesture made towards Fulham fans during Liverpool’s 1-0 defeat at Craven Cottage earlier this month.

Liverpool have also been fined £20,000 for failing to control their players during the same game in the immediate aftermath of Jay Spearing’s sending off in the second half of the Premier League clash.

Suárez, who admitted the charge against him, will miss the Reds’ game against Newcastle at Anfield on Friday as a result of the ruling.

The controversial Uruguayan forward was also recently handed an eight-game ban by the FA for racially abusing Patrice Evra during Liverpool’s Premier League clash with Manchester United at Anfield in October.

An FA statement read: “Luis Suárez will begin a one match suspension with immediate effect after he admitted an FA charge of improper conduct in relation to the same game.

“Suarez was also fined £20,000 and warned as to his future conduct following a gesture he made towards the Fulham fans at the end of the fixture.

“Liverpool Football Club have been fined £20,000 by The FA and warned as to their future conduct for failing to ensure their players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion during the league fixture at Fulham on 5 December 2011.

“The club admitted the charge, which was in relation to the dismissal of Jay Spearing, but did not accept the standard £20,000 penalty for the offence. However, at an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing today [Wednesday 28 December] the fine was imposed.”