Nelsen faces FA charge

Blackburn's Ryan Nelsen has been charged with improper conduct by The Football Association.

The charge relates to comments made by the New Zealand international in the aftermath of Rovers' 2-0 defeat at home to Everton on December 3.

The Rovers captain has until January 17 to respond to the charge and could face a fine and possible suspension if found guilty.

Nelsen was incensed following Andy Todd's dismissal for deliberate handball by referee Mark Halsey and made his feelings plain.

Halsey had also dismissed Rovers defender Zurab Khizanishvili in a prior match at Liverpool, a decision that was later revoked, and Nelsen hinted at an agenda on the part of the Lancashire official.

"The sending-off changed the game, but it happened with the same referee against Liverpool," said Nelsen at the time.

"He cost us points in that game and he's cost us points in this game as well. For some reason he likes giving red cards to us.

"It's the referee who decides, not the linesman, and he asked what he wanted to hear. He's got a nice track record of sending off Blackburn players now, so something might be up.

"He cost us points in that game and he's cost us points in this game as well. For some reason he likes giving red cards to us."

Nelsen has been integral to Rovers' rise up The Premiership to eighth and manager Mark Hughes will not welcome The FA's announcement that Nelsen comments "implied bias by the match officials."