Further sanctions for Jack Stephens for verbally abusing officials

Southampton captain Jack Stephens has been handed a two-match ban and fined £50,000 fine for misconduct following his red card against Manchester United.

The defender was shown a red card by referee Stuart Attwell in the 79th minute of the 3-0 home defeat following a poor tackle on Alejandro Garnacho.

Stephens had admitted he used abusive and insulting words towards both Attwell, after being shown the red card, and then to the fourth official as he left the pitch.

The 30-year-old had already served out a three-match ban, missing the Carabao Cup tie at Everton as well as the Premier League games against Ipswich and Bournemouth.

Following the latest sanctions imposed by an independent regulatory commission, Stephens will now also be suspended for the trip to Arsenal on Saturday and the home match against Leicester after the international break.

The Saints skipper had requested a personal hearing. In the written reasons for the case, it was confirmed the Football Association had submitted the appropriate starting point would be an immediate sanction of four matches, the standard two in respect of each charge related to the language used towards the the officials.

Stephens expressed his regret in a letter to the commission, admitting: "I am well aware that what I said was completely unacceptable and below the standard of conduct expected of me", also apologising to both Attwell and fourth official Gavin Ward.

The commission found a mitigated two-match suspension was "appropriate, given the separate incidents of foul and abusive language, coupled with Mr Stephens role as captain," and also ruled the financial penalty of £50,000 was "proportionate".

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