Souness charged after referee spat
LONDON, England -- Blackburn manager Graeme Souness has been charged with abusive and insulting words to a match official after he made comments to referee Graham Poll during the 1-0 home win over Tottenham last month.
Souness was furious after substitute Steven Reid appeared to be fouled by Stephen Carr but did not win a free-kick.
"I said to Mr Poll, 'I didn't know you were a Tottenham supporter,' and he has taken exception to that," Souness said at the time.
The English FA, who have given Souness until December 23 to respond to the charge, said: "It is alleged that he questioned the referee's impartiality."
Meanwhile, The FA also said they will be looking at the behaviour of Arsenal's England defender Ashley Cole after he was sent off in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Leicester City.
Cole was dismissed for an ugly two-footed lunge at Ben Thatcher.
However, Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard was not even booked for a similarly bad tackle in their match at Newcastle United.
The FA said it would not take any action against Gerrard as the referee, Poll again, had confirmed he saw the incident.
Pointing to its rule book, the FA said it "cannot initiate disciplinary proceedings on incidents which have been seen by the referee."
