LONDON -- Queens Park Rangers defender Rio Ferdinand was banned for three games on Wednesday over a tweet containing a derogatory reference to women.
The English Football Association found that Ferdinand's comment was ''abusive and/or indecent and/or insulting and/or improper'' that included a ''reference to gender.''
An independent FA commission imposed the ban and also fined Ferdinand 25,000 pounds ($40,300).
Ferdinand was also warned as to his future conduct and ordered to attend an education program within four months.
Ferdinand, who joined QPR in the summer after being released by Manchester United, is a member of a high-profile FA commission looking at how to improve English football.
In 2012, Ferdinand was fined 45,000 pounds (then $71,000) over a tweet about Chelsea rival Ashley Cole. Ferdinand endorsed a user's comment that referred to Cole as a ''choc ice,'' a slang term perceived as meaning black on the outside and white on the inside.
He will miss QPR's upcoming games against Chelsea, Manchester City and Newcastle - although he has been a substitute for the Premier League struggler in recent weeks.
