QPR's on loan striker Federico Macheda was one of three players charged on Monday by the Football Association of making alleged homophobic comments on social networking site Twitter.
Macheda - sent on loan to QPR from Manchester United - Newcastle forward Nile Ranger and Manny Smith of League 1 outfit Walsall are accused of acting in a way which was "improper and/or brought the game into disrepute", including "a reference to a person's or persons' sexual orientation".
The three players have until Wednesday to respond.
An FA statement read: "Newcastle United's Nile Ranger, Walsall's Manny Smith and Manchester United's Federico Macheda, currently on loan at Queens Park Rangers, have all been charged with improper conduct in relation to comments made on Twitter.
"The charge is that the players acted in a way which was improper and/or brought the game into disrepute.
"It is further alleged that the breach included a reference to a person's or persons' sexual orientation."
West Ham's troubled midfielder Ravel Morrison was last week fined £7,000 by the FA in response to a homophobic remark he had made on Twitter.
Morrison, who completed a switch for an undisclosed fee to Upton Park from Manchester United at the end of January, is reported to have made the comment in response to another Twitter user.
The 19-year-old was also warned as to his future conduct by the FA.
Source: AFP
