Liverpool reserve goalkeeper Charles Itandje has apologised to the club's fans after he was suspended for 14 days for his conduct during this week's Hillsborough memorial service.

The Premier League club confirmed today that he had been suspended after television pictures appeared to show him smiling during Wednesday's service to remember the deaths of 96 Liverpool fans at an FA Cup semi-final 20 years ago.

"Charles Itandje has now been officially suspended for 14 days by the club while we investigate his conduct during the Hillsborough Memorial Service," a club spokesman said.

Itandje, who signed from French club Lens in 2007, was told not to attend training yesterday under the instructions of manager Rafael Benitez.

Liverpool's players joined thousands of fans at Anfield on Wednesday for an emotional service.

"First of all, if my behaviour has called offence to anybody then I can only apologise," Itandje was quoted as saying by the Liverpool Echo newspaper.

"I am sorry, I am sorry, a thousand times I'm sorry. It was never my intention to offend or disrespect anyone.

"To the club, to the fans, and especially to the families I am deeply sorry."

Sign up to our free newsletters

Get the best updates straight to your inbox:
Please select at least one mailing list.

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By subscribing, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing.