Birmingham City striker Christophe Dugarry was fined Stg£12,500 for spitting by the English FA today.
The fine related to the Frenchman's clash with Aston Villa's Joey Gudjonsson in the stormy midlands derby at Villa Park on March 3rd.
An FA disciplinary hearing found Dugarry guilty of improper conduct but accepted Dugarry's assertion that he did not deliberately spit at Gudjonsson.
"While finding him guilty, the Commission accepted that he was not spitting directly at an opponent," the FA said in a statement on its official website.
Dugarry, who was also warned about his future behaviour but avoided a possible three-match ban, has 14 days to appeal.
Gudjonsson was one of two Villa players sent off in Birmingham's 2-0 win at Villa Park.Striker Dion Dublin was also red-carded for head-butting Birmingham's Robbie Savage.
Dublin faces two charges of improper conduct over his behaviour and both clubs have been charged with failing to control their players.
Dugarry, who is on loan at Birmingham from French club Girondins Bordeaux, has scored five goals in his last four games to help City secure their premier league survival.