Post by Salem6 on Oct 18, 2005 12:06:00 GMT
Aston Villa manager David O'Leary has been charged by the Football Association with using abusive or insulting words to a match official.
O'Leary ran across the Birmingham pitch after his side's 1-0 derby win and gestured towards his chairman Doug Ellis in the directors' box.
He ran past referee Graham Poll on the way and the charge relates to a comment made to the match official.
O'Leary has until 1 November to respond to the charge.
The FA were awaiting Poll's report before taking any action and have deemed the referee's description of events as serious enough to take action.
An FA statement also said Villa's manager: "has also been reminded of his responsibilities in relation to his post-match celebrations".
O'Leary defended his action after the game by saying he was dedicating the win to Ellis.
He said: "I knew how much this meant to the chairman and this was the only way of going over.
"The chairman has taken a lot of stick this week and has been very ill.
"I could see him and how 'smiley-wiley' he was."
However, Birmingham co-owner David Sullivan said O'Leary should not have made the gesture - but argued that the reaction to O'Leary's actions demonstrates the amount of hostility in the game.
"It is unfortunate it has happened, it has probably again been blown out of all proportion and, thankfully, it passed off without incident," said Sullivan.
"I think it is a bit sad that David O'Leary cannot do that and we are worried something may happen. I'm saying that he should not have done it but, at the same time, it is a bit sad that he cannot do that.
"It is about time people were a bit more sporting and a bit more tolerant of the away supporters - but, in this climate, David O'Leary should not have done that.
"When we go to away grounds we are nervous at even standing up and applauding a goal from your own team because you do not want to upset the home fans."
news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/aston_villa/4348802.stm