Ryan Babel ahs accepted a charge of improper misconduct from the Football Association for his Twitter post about referee Howard Webb.
The Liverpool midfielder posted a mocked-up photograph of Webb wearing a Manchester Utd shirt shortly after the Reds’ controversial FA Cup exit to the hands of Webb United last Sunday.
Babel will have a personal hearing, by his request, on Monday 17th November.
The Dutch international has been defended by the PFA’s Gordon Taylor and Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish who described the tweet as “just a bit of fun”.
During the game Webb gifted United a penalty when he accused Daniel Agger of tripping Dimitar Berbatov in the first minute, which turned out to be the winning goal after Gigg’s converted.
Webb also had many questions of his decision to send off Steven Gerrard in the first half too.
The FA have been criticised for their lack of sense of humour in the fiasco, with the latest criticism from Blackpool boss Ian Holloway who spoke to Webb after the game.
He said, “I thought it was funny – I thought the ref looked really cool in a Man United shirt to be honest!”
“I saw him in the toilet at the match I went to the other night at Stockport. I said ‘come on, what sort of game did you have against Man United? Was that a sending off and was that a penalty?’
“We had a bit of a laugh about it, but to pick on young Ryan Babel for that – how can you fine him for that? It’s rubbish.”
