England international midfielder Jonjo Shelvey has been banned for five games after he was found guilty of using racially abusive language by an independent panel on Tuesday. The 24-year-old - who won the last of his six caps in 2015 - was also fined £100,000 ($123,000, 118,000 euros) for abusing Moroccan midfielder Romain Saiss during his side Newcastle United's 2-0 defeat by Wolves in their second tier Championship clash in September.
Shelvey, who has been instrumental in Newcastle's drive for an immediate return to the Premier League, was reported to the match referee by Saiss's team-mates but he strongly denies making any such remarks. "Jonjo Shelvey has been given a five-match suspension and £100,000 fine after an FA misconduct charge against him was found proven," read the FA statement.