LIVERPOOL MANAGER BRENDAN RODGERS has been charged by the Football Association for comments made after his side’s defeat to Manchester City.
Rodgers was dismayed with a series of decisions that he felt went against his side in the 2-1 defeat at the Etihad Stadium, labelling the performance of the officials as “horrendous”.
The 40-year-old was angered by a decision to disallow a goal by Raheem Sterling with the score at 0-0, despite replays suggesting he was onside.
Striker Luis Suarez was also denied a penalty in the closing stages after a tussle with Joleon Lescott, to further irk Rodgers.
The Northern Irishman also questioned the decision to appoint Bolton-born referee Lee Mason for the encounter stating: “Hopefully we won’t have a Greater Manchester referee with Liverpool-Manchester games in future.”
The FA took a dim view of the comments and confirmed they have launched an investigation.
Rodgers has subsequently been charged by the governing body and has until January 8 to respond.
A statement by the FA read: “Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has been charged by The FA over post-match media comments he made following his side’s game against Manchester City on 26 December 2013.
“It is alleged the comments by Rodgers called into question the integrity of the match referee, and/or implied that the match referee was motivated by bias; and/or brought the game into disrepute; and/or amounted to a failure to act in the best interests of the game.”
Meanwhile, Southampton striker Dani Osvaldo was fined €48,0000 and suspended for three matches on Friday for his part in a touchline brawl during an ill-tempered Premier League clash at Newcastle.
Osvaldo was watching from the sidelines after already being substituted during the 1-1 draw on December 14 when he reacted angrily to an aggressive tackle in stoppage-time.
he 27-year-old, who joined Southampton for a club record £12.8 million in August last year, is ruled out of Saturday’s FA Cup third round tie against Burnley.
