Liverpool: Brendan Rodgers accepts FA referee charge

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has accepted a Football Association charge over post-match comments he made after his side's defeat at Manchester City.

Rodgers criticised the "horrendous" performance of the match officials and questioned the appointment of Bolton referee Lee Mason after the 2-1 loss.

He said: "Hopefully we won't have a Greater Manchester referee with Liverpool-Manchester games in future."

Rodgers will be fined following a short hearing, which he will not attend.

The Northern Irishman was charged by the FA of being in breach of FA Rule E3   which in previous cases carries a financial penalty and warning of future conduct rather than a touchline ban.

Rodgers, 40, had subsequently clarified the remarks he made on 26 December and said he had not queried Mason's ability to referee the match.

"I was talking in terms of geography and I certainly wasn't questioning the integrity of referees," Rodgers later said.

"I wouldn't suspect that Mike Dean, from the Wirral, has refereed many games for Liverpool over the years."