The Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel has been given a three-match ban and a $120,000 fine after admitting a charge of using threatening or abusive language towards referee Mark Clattenburg after a home defeat by Manchester United in October.
The Football Association says its Independent Regulatory Commission found Mikel guilty of the charges relating to an incident in the official's changing room.
Chelsea had complained immediately after the controversial defeat about Clattenburg using "inappropriate language" to two of their players, one of whom was Nigerian Mikel.
The FA launched an investigation into the allegations of racist language and Clattenburg was subsequently stood down from his refereeing duties before they decided that the official had no case to answer.
Mikel's ban would have been longer, the FA said in a statement, had it not been for the player's genuine belief that he had been racially abused.
FIFA referee Clattenburg has now returned to his duties and Chelsea last month issued a statement expressing regret over their handling of the allegations.
Mikel will miss Premier League matches against Sunderland and Aston Villa as well as the League Cup tie against Leeds United but the ban will not effect his participation in the Club World Cup in Japan.
