The Liverpool midfielder Ryan Babel has been charged with improper conduct by the English Football Association after posting a mocked-up photo of referee Howard Webb wearing a Manchester United shirt on social networking site Twitter.
The picture appeared on the Dutch forward's official page on Twitter just hours after United beat Liverpool 1-nil in the third round of the FA Cup yesterday - a match refereed by Webb.
Webb, who refereed last year's World Cup final, angered Liverpool by awarding United a first-minute penalty, from which Ryan Giggs scored, before sending-off Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard.
As well as the photo, Babel wrote: "And they call him one of the best referees? That's a joke.
The 24-year-old Dutchman subsequently apologised to Webb, he has until Friday to respond to the charge.
