Allardyce Handed FA Charge

By Mark Heys
January 26 2006

Sam Allardyce has been charged with improper conduct by the Football Association following comments made towards referee Mike Riley after the local derby with Blackburn Rovers two weeks ago.

Allardyce was incensed that Riley sent off Bolton's Japanese midfielder Hidetoshi Nakata and claimed that the crowd violence that followed was a result of the officials poor handling of the game.

Riley has often been criticised by Allardyce due to his performances when officiating Wanderers matches in the past. In the 2001-2002 season the Yorkshire-based official sent off Bolton pair Dean Holdsworth and Paul Warhurst for clashing with then Leicester City midfielder Robbie Savage, now with Blackburn, and the same player was again at the brunt of things during the game at Ewood Park.

The Bolton boss Allardyce has 15 days to respond to the charge issued towards him.