Shearer was punished by UEFA after disciplinary chiefs studied his clash with Inter Milan defender Fabio Cannavaro on video and ruled that he had elbowed the Italian.

Both the player and manager Sir Bobby Robson claimed that his actions had simply been those of a man trying to free himself from the Italian’s bear hug, and although the panel took Cannavaro’s provocation into account, they decided that the former England skipper had to be punished.

Strike partner Craig Bellamy, who was sent off just five minutes into the same game for kicking out at Marco Materazzi, was fined a maximum of two weeks’ wages - an estimated £30,000 (€47,000) – by the club, but it is understood that Shearer will not face further action.

Chairman Freddy Shepherd indicated in announcing the player’s decision not to appeal against his ban that the club would consider internally if they should act, but they have now decided that the suspension – which will hurt their captain as much as it does his team’s chances of progressing in the competition - will suffice.

Bellamy will also miss the game at the Nou Camp after receiving an automatic one-match penalty for his red card, but will not discover until December 17 at the next meeting of the disciplinary panel whether he will face a longer ban.