Aston Villa manager Dean Smith has been charged by the FA, following his reaction to Man City's controversial opening goal in yesterday's 2-0 defeat at the Etihad Stadium.
Smith was initially shown a yellow card by referee Jon Moss, before further protestations saw that upgraded to a red card.
This evening he was charged with "using abusive or insulting language towards officials".
The Villa boss was furious with the decision which saw Man City's opening goal stand. Man City midfielder Rodri was adjudged to have been onside once Villa defender Tyrone Mings played the ball in the lead up to the goal, with a PGMOL statement afterwards confirming the decision was correct - to the letter of the law.
Their statement read:
"Rodri was initially standing in an offside position as the ball was played upfield.
"Tyrone Mings deliberately played the ball, controlling it on his chest. As soon as Mings deliberately played the ball the following Law applies: ‘A player in an offside position receiving the ball from an opponent who deliberately plays the ball, including by deliberate handball, is not considered to have gained an advantage, unless it was a deliberate save by any opponent’.
"As the Law deems that Rodri has not gained an advantage, he has not committed an offside offence and play should be allowed to continue. Rodri legitimately took possession of the ball from Mings, starting the attack which resulted in the goal."
Villa manager Dean Smith doubled down on his anger at the decision in his post match press conference.
"It was a farcical decision. I’ve not seen a goal like that given. It needs to be looked at. I don’t think anyone in this stadium thought it was a goal.
"Are we just going to leave players behind the line then? It’s farcical. He was 10 yards offside and come back and tackled our player, it’s a pathetic law and a pathetic decision," he said.
Smith has until Tuesday the 26th of January to respond to the charge.
