Premiership: Ginola gets FA rap over touchline bust-up

David Ginola has been charged with misconduct by the Football Association after his bust-up with a fourth official.

The Villa player was involved in a touchline confrontation with Clive Wilkes after he had been sent off during the Premiership clash with Leicester City.

Ginola has 14 days to respond to the charge.

The French star wagged a finger at Wilkes and then tapped him on the left side of his head following his red card by referee Steve Bennett for violent conduct after kicking out at Dennis Wise.

He had to be calmed down by manager John Gregory, first team coach Stuart Gray and physio Jim Walker before finally heading to the dressing rooms.

Bennett sent an additional report to the FA in which is understood to have taken a hard-line stance over the incident near to the Villa dug-out.

If he is found guilty, Ginola will face an extra three match ban and a possible two week fine as well which would cost him around £70,000.

That will be added to the automatic three game suspension for the red card.

FA spokesman Adrian Bevington said: "I can confirm that David Ginola has been charged with misconduct under FA disciplinary rules relating to E1 and E2 which refers to using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour towards a match official.

"This follows his actions after his dismissal in the Aston Villa-Leicester game on Saturday. The player has 14 days to respond to the charge."

If the punishment is six games, Ginola will miss the matches with Ipswich (home), Derby (away), Liverpool (home), Tottenham (home), Sunderland (away) and the third round of the FA Cup.

The 35-year-old would not be available again until the home match with Derby on January 12.

Gregory has already confirmed that he will be fining Ginola for being dismissed.