Wenger charged for rant at official after draw

Published Sep. 20, 2010 5:36 p.m. ET

foxsports

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has been charged with improper conduct by the Football Association after making contact with the fourth official as his team conceded a late equalizer at Sunderland on Saturday.

Wenger was angry that Darren Bent scored 15 seconds after the allotted four minutes of added time had expired.

Wenger, who appeared to sarcastically pat Martin Atkinson on the back, could accept the charge and a one-match touchline ban and 8,000-pound ($12,500) fine under the FA's new fast-track disciplinary procedures.

The FA announced that Wenger has been "charged with using insulting and/or abusive language and behavior amounting to improper conduct."