Leicester to appeal against FA charges

Leicester are to appeal against the Football Association charges handed out to manager Micky Adams and defender Ben Thatcher.

Leicester are to appeal against the Football Association charges handed out to manager Micky Adams and defender Ben Thatcher.

Thatcher has been charged with violent conduct after an incident involving Freddie Ljungberg during the home Premiership match with Arsenal just over a fortnight ago.

Adams will have to appear in the dock for "improper conduct and insulting words" towards referee Mike Riley at the half-time interval of the game with Birmingham at the Walkers Stadium nine days ago.

The manager said: "We are appealing against both of the charges. I stand by what I said at the time, that I didn't use any foul or abusive language and, believe you me, I didn't use any `insulting words'.

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"I may even call in a lip-reader to back up my claims. That is definitely one avenue that I may go down to try and prove I am innocent of the charge."

Adams has called the charge against Thatcher "a nonsense" although the former Tottenham player will face a three-match ban if he is found guilty.

"We will be using video evidence as regards defending both charges - if we are allowed to put it forward," Adams said.

Newcastle, meanwhile, are hopeful that a protective mask could enable Shola Ameobi to make a quicker-than-expected return from the fractured cheekbone he suffered at Charlton.