Sunderland boss Steve Bruce has been fined £2,500 following his critical comments about the dismissal of defender Michael Turner in the defeat to Manchester City in December. Bruce, who has also been asked to explain his comments after the game, during which he described referee Andre Marriner's decision to send off the defender for an aerial challenge with Gareth Barry as "obscene", "a joke" and "an outrage".

An FA statement today read: "At an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing, Sunderland manager Steve Bruce was fined for improper conduct.

"The commission took into consideration Bruce's admission of the charge and his previous exemplary record in relation to media comments."