Sunderland and Oxford United, along with Black Cats assistant boss Jamie McAllister and U's manager Karl Robinson, have been charged by the FA as the fall-out continues from the club's explosive Easter meeting on Wearside.
Players and staff from both clubs were involved in a confrontation in the tunnel at half-time on April 2, and again at full-time, with Robinson claiming that his goalkeeper Jack Stevens had been headbutted by one of the Sunderland contingent in the fracas at the interval.
Robinson was later sent to the stands by referee Trevor Kettle for his reaction to Sunderland's second goal in the 3-1 win, and he has already served a one-match touchline ban and been fined £1,000 after accepting an FA charge for 'using abusive and/or insulting language' towards Kettle.
But Robinson and McAllister have now been charged with a breach of Rule E3, 'improper and/or violent conduct'.
Robinson's charge relates to his behaviour at full-time, while McAllister has been charged over events at half-time.
In addition, both clubs have been charged with a breach of Rule E20, 'failing to ensure that their players and/or club officials conducted themselves in an orderly fashion and/or refrained from provocative behaviour in or around the tunnel area at half-time and full-time of the fixture'.
Robinson, McAllister, and the clubs have until Wednesday to respond to the charges.
If admitted, the standard penalty for a breach of Rule E3 is a £1,000 fine at League One level, and a one-match touchline ban if the offence includes abusive/insulting language.
If denied and subsequently found proved, the fine is increased to £1,500 and the potential touchline ban doubled.
A breach of Rule E20, if admitted, attracts a standard penalty of £2,500. If denied and subsequently found proved, the fine is increased to £3,750.
But the FA rules do allow the standard punishments to be increased if they are judged to be insufficient.
