Ferguson faces double FA charge

Duncan Ferguson looks certain to be handed a three-match suspension by the Football Association after the Everton striker was charged with violent behaviour yesterday.

Duncan Ferguson looks certain to be handed a three-match suspension by the Football Association after the Everton striker was charged with violent behaviour yesterday.

Ferguson already faces a one-game ban following his sending-off for two bookable offences during Saturday's 1-1 draw at Leicester City, a dismissal which is understood to have led to a fine of two weeks' wages by his club. But it was his reaction that followed which has landed him in hot water with the FA, who have also charged him with improper conduct for making an offensive gesture to City supporters.

Ferguson received his second caution after clashing with Steffen Freund in an aerial challenge, with Ferguson's fury spilling over when he grabbed hold of the German midfielder. After being shown the red card by the referee, Barry Knight, Ferguson did little to aid his cause by gesturing to the Foxes fans.

The Everton manager, David Moyes, although believing the dismissal was harsh on Ferguson, refused to condone his actions which followed, describing them as "unacceptable". The 32-year-old club captain has 14 days to respond, with a personal hearing likely to be requested.

Ferguson is still under investigation by the FA for alleged racial abuse towards the Fulham striker Luis Boa Morte during a 2-1 League defeat at Loftus Road in January. However, it is believed the claim is not a convincing one and Ferguson is likely to escape any charge in that instance.

Joe Kinnear, the Nottingham Forest manager, has been charged with bringing the game into disrepute following a verbal attack on a referee.

Kinnear was angry after Forest's 2-1 defeat by Gillingham at Priestfield earlier in the month in which Phil Crossley sent off Forest's Alan Rogers. Rogers later picked up a four-game ban for serious foul play. But Kinnear had been equally incensed when claiming Gills' player-manager, Andy Hessenthaler, denied the visitors an obvious goalscoring opportunity by bringing down Andy Reid, an offence for which Crossley handed out a yellow card. A furious Kinnear went on to describe Crossley as "pathetic", "scandalous" and "an absolute clown".

The Burnley manager, Stan Ternent, has received a four-match touchline ban for improper conduct. Ternent has also been fined £3,000 following an altercation with the referee, Graham Laws, during the FA Cup fourth-round win over Gillingham in January.