YORK City defender Chris Fairclough has been charged with misconduct by the Football Association following an alleged incident in the players' tunnel after the Minstermen's 0-0 draw with Darlington.

Fairclough, who was a non-playing substitute in the clash with the Quakers, now has until April 28 to respond to the charge and request a personal hearing if he so desires.

City coach Adie Shaw said today the club is currently collating its own evidence on Fairclough's behalf before deciding on its next step.

A spokesman for the FA said if the charge against Fairclough was proved the punishment could be "far reaching".

However, he refused to speculate on just what the penalty could be.

The scoreless Bootham Crescent stalemate with Darlington on April 8 was certainly a highly-charged derby battle.

City had midfielder Kevin Hulme sent-off and six other players were booked by Hull-based referee Paul Robinson.

Robinson confirmed after the match he would be reporting an incident in the tunnel to the FA but declined to say what would be in his report.

Darlington substitute Neil Heaney, one of the players allegedly at the centre of the incident, tried to play down the spat at the time.

He said: "It was just a storm in a teacup. There was a bit of pushing and shoving and a few raised voices but that was all."

Chelsea stars face another FA probe after hounding referee Paul Durkin after their defeat at Sheffield Wednesda, it was revealed today..

FA disciplinary chiefs will examine the video of the scenes after Durkin included the incident in his match report.

Marcel Desailly, Emerson Thome, Didier Deschamps and Celestine Babayaro all surrounded the Dorset official after the final whistle at Hillsborough.

FA spokesman Adrian Bevington said: "Paul Durkin has referred to the an incident at the end of the game with the Chelsea players and we are going to be taking a look at the video"

Chelsea could find themselves facing a misconduct charge less than a week after the club were fined £50,000 for failing to control their players after a match against Wimbledon in February.

The fine was imposed at an FA Commission last week when captain Dennis Wise was also fined £7,500 for insulting behaviour towards Kenny Cunningham during a tunnel brawl at Stamford Bridge.

Top referee Durkin, meanwhile, could receive his own ticking off for failing to show Blues keeper Ed de Goey the red card in the same game.

The Dutchman brought down Wednesday's Gilles de Bilde as the Belgian striker skipped round him.

Durkin gave a penalty and showed de Goey a yellow card. Wim Jonk scored from the spot to win the game 1-0.

Bevington said: "We will be writing to Paul Durkin for an explanation into his decision, with particular reference to a challenge by Ed de Goey which led to Sheffield Wednesday's penalty. We will await his comments."

City reserves are in action at Bootham Crescent tonight, kick-off 7pm in their final fixture of their Pontin's League Division One campaign.

Tonight's clash with Scunthorpe United was scheduled to take place tomorrow night but was rearranged at the end of last week.

City reserves: Howarth, Reed, Hocking, Keegan, Talbot, Skinner, Jordan, Thompson, Dawson, Turley, J Williams. Subs: Collinson, Fielding, Marshall, M Williams, Wood.