FA charge Emre over 'racist' abuse

The Football Association have charged Newcastle midfielder Emre with using racist language during the match at Everton last month.

Toffees goalkeeper Tim Howard and defenders Joleon Lescott and Joseph Yobo reacted furiously towards the 26-year-old Turkey international after the visitors were awarded a penalty in the 3-0 defeat at Goodison Park on December 30.

An FA statement read: "The FA has charged Newcastle United midfielder Belozoglu Emre with using racially-aggravated abusive and/or insulting words."

Referee Dermot Gallagher did not hear the alleged comments, and the FA wrote to Everton to request further information after Newcastle manager Glenn Roeder claimed afterwards there was "no charge to be answered".

Roeder also stated "Everton are comfortable with that as well", while the player's agent Ahmet Bulut said: "I spoke with Emre and he said that he never said anything racist to the player."

Emre has until January 29 to respond to the charge, which the club claim he intends to deny.

A statement from Newcastle read: "We are aware that the FA has charged Emre, but, as the player has not yet had an opportunity to submit a reply to the charge, we cannot comment further at this time other than to say the player intends to deny the charge."

The claims came in the wake of a row which broke out after Newcastle were awarded a first-half penalty, which Obafemi Martins missed.

Gallagher, after consulting an assistant, spoke to Emre but took no further action.

However, in his report to the FA, he confirmed he had been informed of the allegations, prompting the governing body to launch their probe. They wrote to Everton and the Merseyside club responded on January 10.