Luis Suarez Given One-Game Ban and £20,000 Fine for Gesture to Fulham Fans

Liverpool's Luis Suarez has been handed a one-game ban and a £20,000 fine by the FA, after admitting a charge of misconduct relating to a gesture he made to Fulham fans. The club themselves have also been fined £20,000 for failing to control their players during the Premier League encounter earlier this month.

Suarez raised his middle finger to Fulham supporters at Craven Cottage on December 5th in the wake of Liverpool's 1-0 defeat. This clip shows his gesture set to music.

His subsequent punishment follows the announcement of an eight-game ban and £40,000 fine delivered to Suarez last week, for alleged racial abuse aimed at Manchester United's Patrice Evra in a Premier League match in October.

The FA appointed an independent commission to reach their verdict, which will be appealed by lawyers representing the Uruguayan.

All penalties are suspended in that case, but the misconduct charge relating to his gesture at Fulham means Suarez will miss Liverpool's Premier League game against Newcastle on Friday night.

Here's the official FA statement on the matter.

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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 December 5 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.

Meanwhile, Liverpool player Luis Suarez 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.

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