QPR defender Rio Ferdinand has been banned by the FA for three matches with immediate effect for a comment he made on Twitter.
The 35-year-old, who was an unused substitute against Aston Villa on Monday, also received a fine of £25,000 and will be made to attend an FA-organised education programme after a misconduct charge against him was found proven.
The charge relates to comments which Ferdinand made on Twitter on September 1, in which he described a user's mother as a 'sket'.
Ferdinand was tagged in a message which read: “Maybe QPR will sign a good CB they need one”.
He replied: “Get ya mum in, plays the field well son! #sket”.
The term ‘sket’ is described in the Collins English Dictionary as, ‘A promiscuous girl or woman’.
An FA statement read: "Queens Park Rangers defender Rio Ferdinand has been suspended for three matches commencing with immediate effect, subject to any appeal, after an FA misconduct charge against him was found proven.
"It was alleged a comment Ferdinand posted on his twitter account was abusive and/or indecent and/or insulting and/or improper.
"It was further alleged that this breach was aggravated pursuant to FA Rule E3(2) as the comment included a reference to gender.
"Following an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing on Wednesday 29 October, Ferdinand was also fined £25,000, severely warned as to his future conduct and ordered to attend an education programme, arranged by The FA within four months."
It is not known whether Ferdinand will lodge an appeal.
