The US basketball player fined $50,000 (£30,968) for calling a fan a “faggot” says the punishment is fair.

Chicago Bulls star Joakim Noah said: “I made a mistake. I’ll learn from it and move on.”

He was handed the heavy fine by the NBA after Sunday’s outburst towards the rival fan.

Noah was caught on camera saying: “F**k you, faggot” at the NBA play-offs on Sunday.

He quickly apologised, saying he made the comment in the “heat of the moment” after the fan had said something insulting to him.

His fine is just half of the $100,000 fine given to Lakers star Kobe Bryant when he used the same slur against a referee last month.

When asked about this, Noah told the Chicago Sun-Times: “I didn’t really know what my fine would be. I was just ready to face the consequences and move on and get ready for this game. I don’t want to be a distraction to this team.”