A former Manchester City and PSV Eindhoven defender has been fined by the FA for sending homophobic tweets to a TV soap actor. Michael Ball posted the insulting comment on Twitter during an appearance by a ‘Coronation Street’ actor on reality TV show ‘I'm A Celebrity’ in November 2011.

Ball had said: “That f*****g queer. Get back to your sewing machine in Corrie, you moaning bastard”.

The FA was alerted to the tweet – which was later deleted – and charged him with bringing the game into disrepute. The fine is the highest the FA has ever handed out for homophobia.

The 31-year-old was recently released by second league club Leicester City and is now out of the game. He started his career at Everton and played for Rangers and PSV Eindhoven before moving to Manchester City. He had 1 England cap under former coach Sven Goran Eriksson.