Newcastle boss Joe Kinnear could face an FA charge after being asked to explain his "Mickey Mouse" comments about referee Martin Atkinson.

Football Association disciplinary chiefs have written to the 61-year-old, who has a week to respond, and then a decision will be taken on whether or not further action is required.

An FA spokesman said: "The FA have confirmed they have written to Joe Kinnear to ask him to explain his comments about referee Martin Atkinson following the game at Fulham."

Kinnear reacted furiously after Atkinson failed to award his side a free-kick in the run-up to Fulham's decisive penalty in the 2-1 win over the Magpies at Craven Cottage on Sunday.

Speaking at his post-match press conference, he said: "[Claudio] Cacapa was on the ball and [Andy] Johnson completely pushes him out the way, nicks the ball and gets the penalty.

"We have got the Mickey Mouse referee doing nothing. He's made an error that cost us."

Ironically, Atkinson was also the official confronted by Sunderland boss Roy Keane at half-time at Stamford Bridge eight days earlier, an exchange which ultimately brought the Cork man an improper conduct charge.

It is not the first time Kinnear has been asked to explain himself after voicing his opinion of a referee.

He spent his first two games in charge at Newcastle watching from the stands as he served a two-match touchline ban dating back almost four years to his time in charge at Nottingham Forest.

The penalty was imposed after he, by his own admission, called another official "Coco the Clown".