Oxford United manager Mark Wright has been charged by the Football Association for his outburst against referee Joe Ross a fortnight ago.

The FA confirmed last night that Wright had been charged under FA Rules E1 and E2 with using "indecent, abusive and insulting language towards a match official".

He has been given until the end of the week to respond.

Wright's tirade against Ross came after the bungling ref sent off Paul Moody and later Phil Bolland during United's 1-0 defeat by Scunthorpe at The Kassam Stadium on October 20.

The United manager's actions also earned him a red card, as he was dismissed from the dug-out area and ordered to sit in the stand.

Wright admitted afterwards: "I deserved to get sent off for my comments to that man.

"But he had those sorts of comments made to him when he refereed Rushden & Diamonds here.

"They'll have me, and fine me and touchline-ban me but it shouldn't even have got to that stage."

However, last week an FA disciplinary panel overturned the red cards shown to Moody and Bolland at a hearing in Birmingham.

And Wright may feel that, now that the FA have agreed with United that Ross was wrong to send his two players off, he has a good case in refuting any charge.

Yet Wright also has a history of verbal attacks on match officials. He had to sit in the stand for his opening games as Oxford United manager because of a touchline ban carried over from the end of last season when he was at his former club Southport.

Read more on the U's on This is United