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The club has been charged with two breaches of FA Rule E22. The first alleged breach relates to the club's failure to effectively discharge its responsibility to ensure that no spectators, and/or persons purporting to be its supporters, refrained from racist and/or abusive behaviour. The second alleged breach relates to the failure to prevent spectators throwing missiles onto the pitch.
The charges have come has a surprise to the club, who originally blamed the behaviour of section of the Liverpool fans for starting the trouble - a claim later backed up by the Metropolitan Police Force's official report on the match. But the F.A. have chosen to take a different view, a view which has left Chairman Theo Paphitis fuming.
"God knows what the FA are up to," said Paphitis, speaking on the club's Official Website. "There was never any indication of racist abuse being brought into the discussions after the game, in the media or anywhere else.
The charges are completely ridiculous and we'll see what evidence the FA has got to back them up.
"We have done more than any other club to combat racism - we have three huge Anti-Racism banners across the bottom of the North Stand and operate a zero tolerance policy on racial abuse.
Racism in society and football is unacceptable and we are astonished by the FA's charge."
Liverpool FC have also been charged and both clubs have until December 23rd to respond.