Chelsea captain John Terry has been suspended for four games and fined £220,000 after the country's FA found him guilty of racially abusing Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand.
The former England captain directed abuse at Ferdinand during their English Premier League game in October last year at Loftus Road, which QPR won 1-0, the FA said.
“An Independent Regulatory Commission has today [Thursday 27 September 2012] found a charge of misconduct against John Terry proven and has issued a suspension for a period of four matches and a fine of £220,000, pending appeal,” a statement by the FA said.
The fine amounts to just under two weeks' wages for the Chelsea stalwart, who quit international football in protest at the FA's prosecution of him in the matter.
In July, Terry, 31, was cleared of a racially aggravated public order offence against Ferdinand by a criminal court, but the FA pursued charges against him under its own rules.
Terry continued to deny all charges in the FA hearing, maintaining he was just sarcastically repeating words Ferdinand had wrongfully attributed to him.
The English FA stripped Terry of the England captaincy in February, leading to resignation of coach Fabio Capello in protest, although Terry played for England at Euro 2012, with Ferdinand's brother Rio cut from the squad.
Terry, 31, has played for Chelsea since 1998, making 377 appearances and scoring 28 goals and winning three Premier league titles, five FA cups, two League cups and the 2012 Champions League.
Terry amassed 78 caps and scored 6 goals before announcing his retirement Monday.
Terry has 14 days to appeal the judgment.
