London - Liverpool forward Suso was fined £10 000on Tuesday after labelling team-mate Jose Enrique “gay” on Twitter.
Suso sparked protests last month when he posted a photo on the micro-blogging website of Reds defender Enrique having his teeth whitened and added a tweet which read: “What f**k is he doing? This guy is gay... he does everything except play football.”
He later deleted the tweet and uploaded the photo with a different comment, saying: “I dunno what to say...”
But the Football Association, which earlier this year fined Ashley Cole £90 000 after the Chelsea and England star wrote a critical tweet about the governing body relating to the John Terry-Anton Ferdinand racism hearing, took exception to Suso's orginal comment and warned the 19-year-old about his future conduct.
The FA said in a statement: “Following an independent regulatory commission hearing yesterday (Monday, December 17 2012), Liverpool's Jesus Fernandez Saez (Suso) has been fined £10 000 and warned as to his future conduct for a comment posted on Twitter.
“The charge, which the player admitted and requested a paper hearing, was that he acted in a way which was improper and/or brought the game into disrepute in that the comment was posted on his Twitter account and included a reference to a person/s sexual orientation and/or disability.”
However, Enrique took to Twitter a few hours after the punishment was announced and criticised the FA for fining Suso over what was intended to be a good-natured exchange between friends.
“Is amazing how FA can fine my friend Suso Fernandez for a banter thing. Was just a joke!!!” the Spaniard wrote.
Suso had made a promising start to his Liverpool career after moving to Anfield from Cadiz in the close-season.
The Spain Under-21 international has made 13 appearances for Brendan Rodgers' side, including six starts in the Premier League.
Cole was punished after blasting the FA for casting doubt on his evidence at an FA hearing into claims that team-mate Terry, whom Cole supported, racially abused Ferdinand - Terry was handed a four-match ban and fined £220 000.
Sapa-AFP