JOHN CARVER is facing a touchline ban after he was charged by the Football Association with improper conduct.

The Newcastle United first-team coach has been given 14 days to respond after the FA acted following a bust-up with referee Rob Styles at Birmingham City on January 31.

An angry Carver confronted the Hampshire official on the final whistle at St Andrew's to remonstrate over the award of an injury-time free-kick to the Blues.

Styles ruled that Craig Bellamy had fouled Kenny Cunningham, and then moved the ball ten yards forward after Hugo Viana had foolishly kicked the ball away after the whistle had been blown.

Cunningham floated the ball into the Newcastle box for Stern John to score an equaliser in the third minute of injury time.

The Newcastle bench were furious with the Waterlooville referee and Carver had to be physically restrained by officials and players of both sides after he attempted to confront Styles on the pitch at the end of the game.

Echo SPORT revealed last month that the FA were considering taking action and were reviewing video evidence and scrutinising the referee's report on the incident.

An FA spokesman said: "John Carver has been charged with improper conduct (rule E1) following an incident at the end of the Birmingham City against Newcastle United Premier League game at St Andrew's on January 31.

"He has until March 19 to respond to the charges."

The Newcastle United number two, who replaced the Southampton-bound Mick Wadsworth as assistant to Sir Bobby Robson in the summer of 2001, could be saved from a ban after he contacted Styles following the game to apologise.

The FA spokesman added: "This will be taken into account."

Carver can either admit the charge or ask for a personal hearing to put forward his defence. The FA confirmed last night they had yet to receive a response to the charge at Soho Square.

The whole of the Newcastle bench were angry with Styles' handling of the game and his failure to punish Birmingham's Robbie Savage for a series of fouls.

After the game Sir Bobby Robson said: "How the referee decided Craig Bellamy fouled Kenny Cunningham, I don't know.

"Cunningham took a chance in trying to nick the ball in front of Bellamy, who simply rolled him. It was a foul for us!

"Then Hugo Viana tells me he didn't hear the whistle, so he had a pot-shot at goal.

"But that was deemed as dissent and meant Mr Styles moved a free-kick which wasn't warranted ten yards forward and into more dangerous territory.

"Overall I thought Savage was lucky - extremely lucky - in the first half."

The charge states that team officials 'shall at all times act in the best interests of the game, and shall not act in any manner which is improper or brings the game into disrepute'.

A ban would be the severest punishment the FA could hand out but Carver may receive a warning and/or hefty fine.

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