Everton and Liverpool were charged by the Football Association on Wednesday over a mass brawl during a reserve match.
The brawl at Halton Stadium in Widnes on Oct. 10 was sparked when Everton's Victor Anichebe brought down goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek. The Poland international was sent off for retaliating and could be banned for five matches.
Dudek _ whose penalty saves helped Liverpool win the 2005 Champions League final _ was initially facing a three-match ban for violent conduct due to start Oct. 24. After reviewing video evidence, the FA also charged him with failing to leave the field promptly and confronting the referee. That could increase the ban to five games.
Suspension would leave youth-team goalkeeper David Martin as cover for first-choice Pepe Reina. Scott Carson and Chris Kirkland are on loan with Charlton and West Bromwich Albion and cannot be recalled until January.
Everton could be fined 20,000 pounds (C$42,430) because it is under a suspended sentence for an incident against Middlesbrough in the Premier League in January 2005, in which it was fined 8,000 pounds (C$16,970).
Liverpool could be fined about 10,000 pounds (C$21,215).
All parties have until Nov. 1 to respond.
© The Canadian Press, 2007
