Southampton Captain Jack Stephens Fined and Banned for Abusive Language

Southampton captain Jack Stephens has been fined £50,000 and banned for two games following abusive language toward officials during a Premier League match against Manchester United. Stephens, who was sent off for a high challenge, argued with the referee, leading to the stringent sanctions.

Southampton captain Jack Stephens has been slapped with a £50,000 ($66,535) fine and a two-game ban for abusive language directed at officials during last month's Premier League game against Manchester United. Stephens received a red card for his high challenge on Alejandro Garnacho in Southampton's 3-0 defeat on September 14.

The 30-year-old defender's altercation with referee Stuart Attwell resulted in an extraordinary incident report. 'The defender admitted that he used abusive and insulting words towards both the match referee and the fourth official around the 79th minute after he had been sent off,' stated an FA spokesperson.

An independent Regulatory Commission imposed these penalties, and the written reasons for these decisions are available. Stephens will miss Southampton's next matches against Arsenal and Leicester City. He has already served a three-game suspension for the red card, missing games against Ipswich Town, Everton, and Bournemouth. Southampton are currently second from bottom in the league standings with just one point.

(With inputs from agencies.)