Reading defender John Mackie has been banned for three matches and fined £1,500 by the Football Association after admitting making racist remarks to Sheffield United striker Carl Asaba.

Mackie pleaded guilty to threatening behaviour and abusive and/or insulting words to an opponent at a hearing at the FA's Soho Square headquarters.

The charge related to an incident during the Division One match at the Madejski Stadium on December 14 last year, which United won 2-0.

His ban will start on March 17 and rule him out of the away games at Ipswich and Bradford and the home clash with Preston.

The FA have also taken steps to deter Mackie from transgressing again. Another five-match ban and a further £1,500 fine will be suspended until the end of next season.

An FA spokesman said: "In the event of a similar incident before that date, this additional suspension would be activated with immediate effect."