The longest bans in English football

Luis Suarez has been banned for eight matches and fined £40,000 by the Football Association for racially abusing Patrice Evra.

The Liverpool striker, who has the right of appeal, was sanctioned by an FA Independent Regulatory Commission after Evra complained that he was racially abused by the Uruguayan during Manchester United's Barclays Premier League match at Anfield on October 15.

Here, we take a look at some other lengthy bans meted out to players in English football over the years...

ROY KEANE - Handed a five-week ban and a £150,000 fine in October 2002 for comments made about Alfie Haaland in his controversial autobiography - Keane: The Autobiography.

THE WEDNESDAY THREE - Football was rocked in the early 1960s when The Sunday People claimed three Sheffield Wednesday players had bet on their team to lose, pocketing £100 in the process. The investigation uncovered a more sinister betting ring which concluded with the imprisonment of 10 former and present players. David Layne, Peter Swan and Tony Kay were all banned from the game for life - but had their bans lifted after seven years.

ERIC CANTONA - Banned for nine months from football worldwide and ordered to do 120 hours community service as a result of his Kung-Fu kick on Crystal Palace fan Matthew Simmons in 1995. Cantona was sent off during Manchester United's Selhurst Park meeting with Palace and launched himself over the advertising hoardings at a taunting Simmons as he made his way off the pitch.

MARK BOSNICH - Suspended for nine months in April 2003 after failing a drugs test for cocaine. Had his contract terminated by Chelsea and subsequently lost his appeal against the ban.

RIO FERDINAND - Banned for eight months in December 2003 after failing to take a drugs test in September of the same year.

PAOLO DI CANIO - The fiery Italian forward was handed an 11-game ban and £10,000 fine for pushing referee Paul Alcock while playing for Sheffield Wednesday in a Premier League match against Arsenal in September 1998.

DAVID PRUTTON - the Southampton midfielder was hit with a 10-game ban and fined £6,000 by the FA after shoving referee Alan Wiley following his red card in a match against Arsenal in 2005.

PAUL DAVIS - The Arsenal midfielder was banned for nine matches and fined £3,000 after punching Southampton's Glenn Cockerill during a match in October 1988.

VINNIE JONES - Given a six-month ban suspended for three years in November 1992 - and fined a then record £20,000 by the FA - for his commentary in a video glorifying football violence and dirty tricks.