Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez has been hit with a £60,000 fine.

The sanction was handed to the Spaniard after he accepted a charge for commenting about the referee prior to his team's Premier League game against Crystal Palace last month.

He was responding to Palace forward Wilfried Zaha, who had said he was not being protected by referees.

Benitez said he had "confidence" in match official Andre Marriner.

The Football Association constituted the comments as improper conduct and/or bringing the game into disrepute.