Pardew hit with FA conduct charge

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has been charged with improper conduct by the Football Association. Pardew reportedly made comments – believed to have been aimed at referee Howard Webb and how he might handle then Newcastle player Joey Barton – prior to his side's 1-0 victory against Sunderland on 20 August.

Pardew was quoted in several newspapers as saying: "The referee needs to make sure that he referees the game from a completely neutral point of view."