The Football Association tribunal that found John Terry guilty of racially abusing Anton Ferdinand believed there was "no credible basis" for his defence against the charge.
The FA has published the written reasons for the punishment handed to Terry - a four-match ban and a £220,000 fine - after the tribunal's ruling on the incident, which took place during a match at Loftus Road in October.
The 63-page written reasons reveal the tribunal believed Terry's defence was"improbable, implausible and contrived".
The tribunal delivered its verdict last month, and the written reasons were served to the former England defender and his club, Chelsea, on Thursday night. He now has 14 days to decide whether to appeal against his punishment.