Barnsley and Everton face heavy fines or even deduction of points after being charged by the English FA yesterday following the pitch invasion incidents during their weekend Premiership defeats. Both matches saw fans try to attack referees following controversial decisions during the match.

At Oakwell, during Barnsley's 3-2 defeat by Liverpool, referee Gary Willard left the players on the pitch for five minutes as he went for cover in the dressing-room after home fans, incensed by the dismissals of Darren Barnard and Chris Morgan, tried to attack him, one stopped only by a rugby tackle from Jan Aage Fjortoft.

Further distasteful scenes followed the last minute red-carding of a third Barnsley player, Darren Sheridan, after Steve McManaman had scored the deciding goal in Barnsley's 3-2 defeat, with Liverpool's Paul Ince intervening.

The incidents at Goodison, while less publicised, were equally worrying, one Everton supporter making for referee Neale Barry after he awarded Aston Villa a penalty in their 4-1 win over the Everton.

In an official statement from Lancaster Gate, the FA announced: "Everton FC and Barnsley FC have today both been charged with failing to control spectators under the provisions of FA Rule 24."