Soccer: Newcastle boss Joe Kinnear is now facing two English FA charges after being sent to the stands at the weekend.

The 61-year-old was last night charged with using abusive and insulting words towards a match official during Saturday's 2-2 Barclays Premier League draw with Stoke.

Kinnear is yet to respond to an improper conduct charge after branding Martin Atkinson a "Mickey Mouse referee" following his side's 2-1 defeat at Fulham on November 9th.

An FA spokesman said: "Newcastle United manager Joe Kinnear has been charged with using abusive and insulting words towards a match official.

"Kinnear was sent to the stands during Newcastle's match against Stoke City on 6th December after contesting the award of a free-kick. He has until December 23rd to respond to the charge."

Kinnear was ordered from the bench by referee Mike Riley after he contested the free-kick from which Stoke scored their injury-time equaliser.

French defender Sebastien Bassong was penalised for a foul on Ricardo Fuller, and former Magpie Abdoulaye Faye made the most of Glenn Whelan's free-kick to stab home a match-saving goal.

Kinnear did not conduct the post-match press conference, and it was left to coach Chris Hughton to explain what had gone on.

He said: "I think it was for perceived comments, but from where I was, I certainly didn't hear anything. That's what I think it was for.

"One thing I can tell you is that it's a very, very emotional game, certainly at that stage of the game.

"The linesman had given a decision some four minutes before that, which having seen it again, is exactly the same as our thoughts were at the time, that it wasn't a free-kick.

"It was an old-fashioned shoulder charge, both players competing for the ball, and the free-kick was given.

"Some four minutes later, he give another free-kick in a similar position, which again, we felt wasn't a free-kick."

Kinnear's anger was compounded by the fact that his side had led 2-0 at the break and were cruising towards what would have been just their third win under his guidance before Stoke mounted their fightback.

The former Wimbledon manager has been no stranger to the authorities since his return to the game after an absence of almost four years.

He arrived at St James' Park with a two-game touchline ban, imposed for referring to an official as "Coco the Clown" during the latter days of his spell at Nottingham Forest, still to serve.

An early expletive-ridden press conference, during which he confronted sections of the national media, earned him a letter from Soho Square reminding him of his responsibilities, and the dialogue between FA headquarters and Tyneside is ongoing.

Kinnear has until Friday to respond to his improper conduct charge, which came after he made his feelings known over Atkinson's decision not to penalise Fulham striker Andrew Johnson for a challenge on defender Claudio Cacapa in the run-up to the home side's match-winning penalty.

He had hoped to celebrate his appointment last week as Magpies boss until the end of the season with a victory over Stoke, but instead, faces the prospect of a hefty fine and another touchline ban if he is found guilty on both charges.