The Watford striker Troy Deeney has been charged with violent conduct by the Football Association following an incident involving the Stoke midfielder Joe Allen during Saturday’s Premier League match.
The 29-year-old forward grabbed the Wales international by the face and players from both teams squared up in the stoppage-time incident.
Stoke won the game 1-0 thanks to Darren Fletcher’s goal but it was the altercation between Deeney and Allen which proved to be the major talking point.
The FA said in a statement it had charged Deeney, which read: “Watford’s Troy Deeney charged with violent conduct following Stoke City match on 28/10/17 and has until 18:00 on 31/10/17 to respond.”
Following the game, Stoke manager Mark Hughes laid the blame for the incident at Deeney’s feet.
Stoke had put the ball out of play after a player went down injured but rather than pass the ball back following the throw-in Deeney appeared to attempt a cross into the visitors’ penalty area.
Allen reacted angrily but found himself being grabbed by the face by the Watford striker as players from both sides squared up for a second time.
Deeney and Allen were booked but Stoke’s manager, Hughes, was less than impressed by Deeney’s conduct and suggested he should face further action.
“I thought it was a bit unnecessary, if truthful,” he said. “Clearly we kicked the ball out and the right thing to do in the spirit of the game is throw it back.
“Deeney, the captain of the club, should know better but he shaped to play it into our box and that’s why Joe reacted.
“I’ve seen pictures of raised hands and thumbnails in faces which is totally unnecessary. Maybe other people will look at that.
“ More often than not those situations get revisited by people in authority and decisions are made as a consequence.”