Middlesbrough charged by FA for players' reaction to Leroy Sane penalty decision against Man City

By Lyall Thomas

Image: Cristhian Stuani and the Boro players react after City's penalty award

Middlesbrough have been charged by the FA for their players' reaction to Manchester City being awarded a penalty on Sunday.

The Teeside club have been charged for "failing to ensure their players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion" in or around the 66th minute of the match at the Riverside, which finished 2-2.

The incident in question saw a number of Boro players surround referee Kevin Friend after City attacker Leroy Sane went to ground in the box and was awarded a penalty. Boro players also clashed with City opponents.

Sane's tumble under the challenge of defender Marten de Roon has been discussed as a potential dive and, discussing the incident on Monday Night Football, former Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew believes diving must be stamped out of the game.

Image: Boro players also clashed after Leroy Sane was awarded a penalty

"The problem is you have players saying to their team-mates 'you should have gone down, you would have won a penalty'", he told Sky Sports.

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"You hear them talk like that at half-time. But as a manager you can never endorse that, and if the press or an ex-player are saying that I'll never endorse that because that's me encouraging that situation.

"Boro's players and fans will never forget that incident on Sunday. It was a massive game for them. They aren't forgotten, these incidents, and they should be outlawed.

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"The only way they can be outlawed is to have video referees."

Middlesbrough have until 6pm on Friday, May 5 to respond to the charge.

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