Bernardo Silva slams one-game ban and fined £50k over Mendy racist comments

Bernardo Silva has been hit with a one-game ban and fined £50,000 for sending a racist tweet to Benjamin Mendy.

Silva posted a picture of Manchester city team-mate Mendy as a young boy alongside a cartoon image of a Spanish confectionary mascot last month.

The social media message caused an outcry amid claims if used a racial stereotype of black people - leading the FA to hit him with a misconduct charge.

And the governing body has today slapped the Portuguese star with a one-match suspension.

An FA statement said: "Bernardo Silva has been suspended for one first-team competitive fixture, fined £50,000 and must complete face-to-face education after admitting a breach of FA Rule E3.

"The Manchester City midfielder’s social media activity on 22 September 2019 breached FA Rule E3(1), as it was insulting and/or improper and/or brought the game into disrepute, and constituted an “Aggravated Breach”, which is defined in FA Rule E3(2), as it included reference, whether expressed or implied, to race and/or colour and/or ethnic origin."