FA charges Tyne-Wear derby rivals

Newcastle United and Sunderland have been charged by the FA over a failure to control their players in last weekend’s Tyne-Wear derby.

A fracas involving almost every player on the pitch erupted after winger James McClean slid in on Newcastle defender Danny Simpson in the 19th minute of the fiercely contested Premier League encounter.

A statement released on Wednesday on the FA’s official website outlined the reasons for charging the two sides.

It read: “The charge is that the clubs failed to ensure their players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion and/or refrained from provocative behaviour and is in relation to an incident which occurred in the 19th minute following a challenge by Sunderland’s James McClean on Newcastle’s Danny Simpson.”

Only Simpson and McClean were booked in the aftermath of the clash but the FA have decided to extend the charges to the players’ clubs.

The match saw referee Mike Dean issue eight yellow and two red cards – with Lee Cattermole being sent off after full-time – and involved a touchline spat between managers Alan Pardew and Martin O’Neill.

Both sides have until Monday to respond to the charges.