FORMER Cherries boss Gary O’Neil could be absent on the touchline when his old club visit Wolverhampton Wanderers later this month after the Wolves head coach was charged by the FA.

O’Neil was outraged at the weekend as Wolves were denied a last-minute equaliser against West Ham United, a contentious offside call ruling out Max Kilman’s goal.

On the field post-match Wolves players and O’Neil could be seen remonstrating with match official Tony Harrington, with the former AFC Bournemouth head coach later attempting to speak to the referee in his changing room.

A statement from the FA spokesperson read: “Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Gary O'Neil has been charged with a breach of FA Rule E3.1 following the Premier League fixture against West Ham United on Saturday 6 April 2024.

“It's alleged that following the completion of the fixture, his language and/or behaviour in or around the match officials' changing rooms was improper and/or threatening.

“He has until Monday 15 April 2024 to respond to the charge.”

Immediately after the event O’Neil admitted that he was likely to get in hot water, stating that the referee had refused to speak to him.

Speaking about the incident after the game, O’Neil shared: Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to control my emotion and my feeling well enough to receive an explanation.

“I was in with the referee but it didn’t go too well. I haven’t had an explanation, but the explanation is irrelevant anyway because everybody that I’ve spoken to, including David Moyes and Fabianski, all can’t believe it’s been given for offside.

“I was in a fairly bad mood at the final whistle.

“I went in to see him and I asked him some questions. He didn’t like how they were asked, so he thought it was best we didn’t discuss it.”

Depending on the timeframe and the outcome of the charge, O’Neil is likely to receive a touchline ban.

The usual punishment for a breach of E3.1 leads to a fine and a one-match touchline ban, but depending on the severity of the incident, it can result in a longer suspension.

AFC Bournemouth are set to visit Molineux on Wednesday, April 24 to face Wolves in a Premier League clash, with any ban likely to come into effect ahead of Wolves’ proceeding fixture against Arsenal on Saturday, April 20.