Rio Ferdinand now faces a three-match suspension and wont take part in the weekend fixture against Chelsea. (Source: Reuters)

Queens Park Rangers defender Rio Ferdinand has been suspended for three matches and fined 25,000 pounds ($40,030) after he was found guilty of misconduct by the Football Association (FA) for an “abusive” comment he made on his Twitter account.

The 35-year-old former England defender was found guilty of tweeting a gender-related remark, which was deemed “abusive and/or indecent and/or insulting and/or improper”, to a member of the public in September.

“Ferdinand was also fined 25,000 pounds, severely warned as to his future conduct and ordered to attend an education programme, arranged by The FA within four months,” the FA said in a statement on Wednesday.

The tweet — which was broadcast to Ferdinand’s 5.9 million followers — used the word ‘sket’, which is a derogatory term defined as “a promiscuous girl or woman”.

Ferdinand, who played 81 games for England, was previously found guilty of improper conduct and fined 45,000 pounds in 2012 for comments he made on twitter about Ashley Cole.

The ban, subject to any appeal, means Ferdinand will miss struggling QPR’s Premier League fixtures against table-topping Chelsea, champions Manchester City and Newcastle United.