A WOMEN'S football team is facing charges from the Football Association after allegedly hurling foul-mouthed abuse at a male referee.

Four members of the Boldon Ladies Club were sent off for abusing ref Vincent Geall during the match against Middlesbrough's Marton Ladies.

The game, played at Boldon, South Tyneside, was abandoned in the 84th minute.

Now John Topping, from the Durham County FA, has sent out charge sheets to the Boldon club.

He said last night: "It is obviously very serious when four players from one team get sent off and the game has to be abandoned in the 84th minute.

"All the charges against the players refer to the use of offensive, insulting and abusive language targeted towards the referee.

"This kind of trouble does not really say too much about women's football, which we are trying hard to establish."

Marton were leading five-nil when a player was sent off eight minutes into the second half. In the 83rd minute, another player from Boldon was given her marching orders for allegedly complaining.

She was quickly followed by two more team-mates for using offensive language.

One spectator said: "I've been to a few games in my time but never have I heard such language coming from a football pitch, never mind from women. It was quite shocking."

But the women said last night they would be appealing against the charges.

Boldon player Kerry-Ann Carroll said : "I think we were watching a totally different game. There was no grievance between the two sides."

Ian Simpson, secretary of the Marton side, said: "It's the first time I've seen anything like it.

"It doesn't really happen in ladies football for games to get called off."

Under FA rules, the standard fine for using abusive language towards a match official is a 35-day suspension and a £25 fine. Anything more serious can lead to a 112-day suspension and a maximum £75 fine.

The Boldon team has been part of Durham County Football Association since 1996.