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Luis Suarez has been banned for eight matches and fined �40,000 after an Independent Regulatory Commission found a charge of misconduct against him proven. An FA statement said: 'Mr Suarez used insulting words towards Mr Evra during the match contrary to FA Rule E3(1). 'The insulting words used by Mr Suarez included a reference to Mr Evra's colour within the meaning of Rule E3(2). 'Mr Suarez shall be warned as to his future conduct, be suspended for eight matches covering all first team competitive matches and fined the sum of �40,000. 'The [penalty] is suspended pending the outcome of any appeal lodged by Mr Suarez against this decision. 'Mr Suarez has the right to appeal the decision of the Independent Regulatory Commission to an Appeal Board. An appeal must be lodged within 14 days of the date of the written reasons for the decision. 'The penalty is suspended until after the outcome of any appeal, or the time for appealing expires, or should Mr Suarez decide not to appeal. The reason for this is to ensure that the penalty does not take effect before any appeal so that Mr Suarez has an effective right of appeal. ' Open hearing the verdict, Liverpool released a statement, which said: 'Liverpool Football Club is very surprised and disappointed with the decision of the Football Association Commission to find Luis Suarez guilty of the charges against him. 'We look forward to the publication of the Commission's Judgment. We will study the detailed reasons of the Commission once they become available, but reserve our right to appeal or take any other course of action we feel appropriate with regards to this situation. 'We find it extraordinary that Luis can be found guilty on the word of Patrice Evra alone when no-one else on the field of play - including Evra's own Manchester United team-mates and all the match officials - heard the alleged conversation between the two players in a crowded Kop goalmouth while a corner kick was about to be taken. 'The club takes extremely seriously the fight against all forms of discrimination and has a long and successful track record in work relating to anti-racist activity and social inclusion. We remain committed to this ideal and equality for all, irrespective of a person's background. 'LFC considers racism in any form to be unacceptable - without compromise. It is our strong held belief, having gone over the facts of the case, that Luis Suarez did not commit any racist act. It is also our opinion that the accusation by this particular player was not credible - certainly no more credible than his prior unfounded accusations. 'It is key to note that Patrice Evra himself in his written statement in this case said "I don't think that Luis Suarez is racist". The FA in their opening remarks accepted that Luis Suarez was not racist. 'Luis himself is of a mixed race family background as his grandfather was black. He has been personally involved since the 2010 World Cup in a charitable project which uses sport to encourage solidarity amongst people of different backgrounds with the central theme that the colour of a person's skin does not matter; they can all play together as a team." 'He has played with black players and mixed with their families whilst with the Uruguay national side and was Captain at Ajax Amsterdam of a team with a proud multi-cultural profile, many of whom became good friends. 'It seems incredible to us that a player of mixed heritage should be accused and found guilty in the way he has based on the evidence presented. We do not recognise the way in which Luis Suarez has been characterised. 'It appears to us that the FA were determined to bring charges against Luis Suarez, even before interviewing him at the beginning of November. Nothing we have heard in the course of the hearing has changed our view that Luis Suarez is innocent of the charges brought against him and we will provide Luis with whatever support he now needs to clear his name. 'We would also like to know when the FA intend to charge Patrice Evra with making abusive remarks to an opponent after he admitted himself in his evidence to insulting Luis Suarez in Spanish in the most objectionable of terms. Luis, to his credit, actually told the FA he had not heard the insult. ' The Uruguay international, charged by the Football Association with abusing the Manchester United defender and referring to his 'ethnic origin and/or colour and/or race', faced a disciplinary hearing last week. Suarez denied the allegations levelled against him by Evra after the 1-1 draw between the sides at Anfield on October 15, with formal proceedings in front of an independent three-man panel having started on Wednesday. Although the case became one man's word against the other, complexities left it open to interpretation. From the moment Sir Alex Ferguson escorted his player to see referee Andre Marriner at Anfield after the game, Evra insisted Suarez abused him on numerous occasions when they clashed in the second half. He confided in team-mates for several weeks that he was supremely confident the case against Suarez would be proven and his complaint vindicated. Suarez did not deny using the word 'negro' or 'negrito' once, but what complicated the case was his defence that the term was not meant as an insult and would be acceptable in Uruguay and many countries around the world.