The FA has charged Newcastle manager, Alan Pardew, with improper conduct following comments made before the club’s game against Sunderland nearly two weeks ago.
In a pre-match interview, the manager said: “The referee needs to make sure he referees the game from a completely neutral point of view.”
The comments imply that the manager may not have had the belief that referee, Howard Webb, was capable of officiating the match from a fair perspective.
The Magpies went on to win the Tyne/Wearside derby 1-0.