FA charge Duncan Ferguson

Everton striker Duncan Ferguson has been charged with violent conduct by the Football Association following an incident during the Barclays Premiership encounter with Wigan on Tuesday.

Ferguson is already facing a three-match ban after being sent off by referee Mike Dean for punching Latics defender Paul Scharner in the stomach during the 1-1 draw.

However, it has now transpired that Dean missed Ferguson shoving his hand into the face of Pascal Chimbonda immediately after the Scharner incident.

Dean has informed the FA that, had he witnessed the incident, which occurred before he red-carded the striker, it would have warranted a dismissal on its own.

The FA have decided to act and have given Ferguson until 6pm tomorrow to respond.

If the forward contests the charge the case will be heard a week tomorrow.

However, if he is found guilty, an additional three-match suspension seems certain which will rule him out of action until either the Premiership encounter with Fulham on March 11 or against Aston Villa seven days later, depending on Everton’s FA Cup replay at Chelsea.