Di Canio lands FA charge

Di Canio (l) celebrates his late equaliser against Villa

West Ham's Paolo di Canio has been charged with misconduct by the Football Association following an alleged insulting gesture during a Premiership game against Aston Villa.

The Italian scored a late equaliser in the 1-1 draw but clashed with several players in a bad-tempered display.

The FA acted after seeing photographic evidence from the January 15 match.

Di Canio has 14 days to respond.

Di Canio's one-fingered salute was captured on camera but there was no indication as to whom it was aimed, although Villa fans had accused the player of diving to win a penalty in the side's controversial Worthington Cup tie between the teams just four days earlier.

West Ham manager Harry Redknapp defended his star after the game against Villa.

"I think it's a load of nonsense. The picture of him with his hand up his back, he could be scratching his back. Who knows what he was doing?" said Redknapp at the time.

"One still picture of someone with their hand up their back. I think there is absolutely nothing in it at all."

It is not the first time di Canio has clashed with officialdom.

Fifteen months ago he was banned for 11 games for pushing over referee Paul Alcock while playing for Sheffield Wednesday.

Manchester United's David Beckham picked up a warning earlier this season for aiming a V-sign at Leeds fans during a game.