Sunderland boss Roy Keane is none too happy with the FA over having to face a disciplinary charge following a conversation with referee Martin Atkinson. The Irishman confronted the official at half-time during last Saturday's 5-0 Premier League defeat at Chelsea.

"On Monday morning, I received a call from the referees' assessor and he just said: 'Thoughts on the referee?', and I had a bit of a giggle.

"He said: 'Clearly the second goal shouldn't have stood and clearly there was a foul on Chimbonda for the third goal', and I said, 'Well, yeah, tell me about it'.

"And I had the same conversation two weeks ago (after Kieran Richardson's free-kick had been disallowed at Fulham). I had the same conversation a number of times last year.

"It got to the stage where even Keith Hackett rang me to apologise for the officials' performances. That's saying something.

"Listen, I haven't got a problem with referees making mistakes. What would disappoint me, particularly over the last year and particularly this season, is the number of big decisions that have gone against our football club.

"But when it is constantly going against you, clearly bad decisions, then you have a right as a manager to question or ask an official at half-time."

When asked if he plans to have his say, he replied with a smile: "I would have thought so, yes. I will have a day out in York.

"It's very difficult at this moment in time, and maybe I will get a chance to give my views to the FA.

"But the last time I was charged by the FA, they had a murder lawyer in against me, so it's going to be a hard case to win."