Liverpool Football Club News

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Mascherano charged by FA

26 Mar 2008 - 16:29:28

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The Football Association has charged Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano with improper conduct following the Argentina international's reaction towards referee Steve Bennett after being sent off against Manchester United on Sunday.

Mascherano, who is currently serving a one-match suspension for the red card, has until 6pm on Thursday to respond to the charge and the case will be heard by a regulatory commission on Friday 4 April.

Frustrated Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has spoken of his desire to hold talks with referees' chief Keith Hackett following Mascherano's dismissal in the 3-0 defeat.

"I would like to speak to Keith Hackett because it is important we find a solution," said Benitez. "At Liverpool we respect the game, the rules and we respect the referee."

Mascherano - who had already been booked - appeared to question referee Bennett's decision to caution Fernando Torres, and was then shown a second yellow card himself.

However, the player insists he did not swear at the match official and is unsure why he was dismissed.

He told the Daily Echo: "I do not know why I was sent off. I asked the referee what was happening. I did not swear. I was not aggressive and I did not confront him. All I did was ask him what was happening, nothing else.

"When he showed me the second yellow card and sent me off I could not believe it. I am sorry to my team-mates because that meant we went down to ten men and that made things even more difficult for us."