Allardyce charged by FA

Allardyce has never liked Riley

Bolton manager Sam Allardyce has been charged by the Football Association over his comments about Carling Cup final referee Mike Riley.

Allardyce is accused of failing to act in the best interests of the game and bringing the game into disrepute.

The Wanderers boss, who has 14 days to respond to the FA charge, hit out after his side lost 2-1 to Middlesbrough.

He was angry that Riley awarded Boro a penalty but turned down Bolton's claims for a spot-kick late on in Cardiff.

Allardyce has said that he will fight the charge "vigorously".

Report: Bolton 1-2 Middlesbrough

He said: "I will just have to go for my hearing and say what I have to say.

"All I can say at the moment is that I am disappointed to have been brought up on a charge. We will go and fight that charge vigorously."

Allardyce said immediately after the game: "I will always look back at the major decisions and Mike Riley was poor.

"Boro's penalty should have been a free-kick to us. And in the last five minutes Ugo Ehiogu hit the ball with his arm. It was a clear penalty for me.

"We had our concerns about him before the match and he lived up to his reputation as far as we're concerned."

Allardyce was referring to the history of clashes between Bolton and the official from Leeds.

Riley, who will be one of England's representatives at Euro 2004, sent off two Wanderers players in the game with Leicester in 2001 and dismissed Bruno N'Gotty against West Brom in November 2002.

"He's not been very good for us at all. I've never liked him as a referee for us and he has cost us the chance of winning," Allardyce added.