FA charge Preston North End manager with misconduct

Preston boss Paul Heckingbottom has been charged with misconduct following his half-time dismissal in last week's Sky Bet Championship win at Watford.

Heckingbottom was sent off by referee Tom Neild for allegedly using foul and abusive language in the tunnel during the interval and for "entering the technical area prior to the start of the second half" after his red card.

The FA said: "Paul Heckingbottom has been charged with misconduct following the EFL Championship fixture between Preston North End and Watford on Tuesday 21 January.

"The manager allegedly acted in an improper manner and/or used threatening and/or abusive and/or insulting words and/or behaviour towards the match official/s around the tunnel area at half time, which led to his dismissal.

"It's further alleged that he acted in an improper manner following his dismissal by entering the technical area prior to the start of the second half."

Heckingbottom has until January 29 to respond to the allegations, the FA said.

Preston won the game at Vicarage Road 2-1 thanks to Milutin Osmajic's double and after Saturday's home win against Middlesbrough sit 14th in the table. First for all the latest news from across the UK every hour on Hits Radio on DAB, at hitsradio.co.uk and on the Rayo app.

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