Sunderland manager Bruce fined for ref rant

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce was on Monday hit with a 2,500-pound fine for an outburst over referee Andre Marriner’s handling of his side’s 4-3 defeat by Manchester City in December.

Bruce was enraged by Mariner’s dismissal of defender Michael Turner for an aerial challenge with Gareth Barry and described the red card he issued as “obscene”, “a joke” and “an outrage”.

That led to Monday’s judgement from the Football Association, which found Bruce guilty of improper contact having also dismissed Sunderland’s appeal against Turner’s sending-off.