Soccer-Liverpool's Mascherano charged with improper conduct

By Mitch Phillips

LONDON, March 26 (Reuters) - Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano was charged with improper conduct by the FA on Wednesday following his refusal to leave the field after being sent off in last Sunday's 3-0 defeat by Manchester United.

The Argentina midfielder, having been booked for a tackle in the Premier League match at Old Trafford, was shown a second yellow card after he ran 20 metres to to question referee Steve Bennett who had cautioned Liverpool striker Fernando Torres.

Mascherano then lost his temper and berated the referee, despite several attempts from team mates and Liverpool officials to calm him down, before being dragged from the pitch.

His red card earned him an automatic one-game suspension, which rules him out of Sunday's important derby with Everton as the teams chase a Champions League qualifying place, but if he is found guilty he will face a further ban.

"The charge relates to his reaction towards referee Steve Bennett after being sent off against Manchester United," the FA said in a statement.

Mascherano has until 1800 GMT on Thursday to respond and the case will be heard on April 4.

(Editing by Ken Ferris)