Holloway charged after confronting referee

Blackpool manager Ian Holloway has been charged with improper conduct by the English Football Association after confronting referee…

Blackpool manager Ian Holloway has been charged with improper conduct by the English Football Association after confronting referee Mike Dean in the tunnel following the 2-1 loss to Blackburn on Saturday.

The Seasiders’ boss was furious Brett Emerton’s injury-time winner was allowed to stand despite a suspicion of offside and what he felt was a foul on Gary Taylor-Fletcher in the build-up.

Under the FA’s new fast-track procedures, Holloway has until Friday to respond to the charge.

The charge will come as no surprise to Holloway, who said on Saturday: “I thought the referee had a poor game and he is going to report me for what I said to him in the tunnel.

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“I can’t believe what he saw. I thought there was some unbelievably strange decisions out there.

“I waited for him in the tunnel. Never mind, I have got to learn and I should know better — but it is ridiculous.”

A regulatory commission will hear the case within 10 days of Holloway’s response, and a previous incident on his disciplinary record will be taken into account in any punishment.

The 47-year-old served a two-match touchline ban for improper conduct towards a match official at Blackpool’s meeting with Ipswich in January.