Former Liverpool forward Peter Beardsley has been banned from football for 32 weeks after being found guilty of using racist and/or abusive language whilst working as a coach for Newcastle United’s U23s.

An FA Statement said:

The FA alleged that Mr Beardsley used abusive and/or insulting words, which were contrary to FA Rule E3(1) and constituted an ‘Aggravated Breach’ under FA Rule E3(2) due to reference of ethnic origin and/or colour and/or race and/or nationality, while employed as a coach of the club’s Under-23s team. All three breaches of FA Rule E3 were denied but subsequently found proven based upon the results and findings of Newcastle United FC’s disciplinary proceedings.

Further reports claim that Beardsley told black players “you should be used to that” during a team-building exercise at Go Ape and that he called a black player a monkey during a game of head tennis.

Beardsley denied all of the charges against him but he was found guilty and as such, he is banned from all football activities until April 29th, 2020.