FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Southampton v Manchester United - St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, Britain - September 14, 2024 Southampton's Jack Stephens during the warm up before the match Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley/File Photo
(Reuters) - Southampton captain Jack Stephens has been handed a 50,000 pounds ($66,535) fine and banned for two games for his abusive language toward officials during last month's Premier League clash with Manchester United.
Stephens was sent off for his high challenge on Alejandro Garnacho in their 3-0 loss to United on Sept. 14.
The 30-year-old defender argued with referee Stuart Attwell which led to the filing of an extraordinary incident report.
"The defender admitted that he used abusive and insulting words towards both the match referee and fourth official around the 79th minute after he had been sent off," the FA said in a statement.
"An independent Regulatory Commission imposed these sanctions, and its written reasons can be seen below."
Stephens will miss Southampton's upcoming games against Arsenal and Leicester City. He already served a three-game suspension for the red card, missing matches against Ipswich Town, Everton and Bournemouth.
Southampton are second from bottom in the league standings on one point.
($1 = 0.7515 pounds)
(Reporting by Lori Ewing; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
