The Sunderland manager Roy Keane has denied a Football Association charge of improper conduct, relating to his behaviour towards the referee Martin Atkinson during his side's 5-0 defeat at Chelsea this month.

Keane, who has requested a personal hearing with the FA, was sent to the stands for the second half after confronting Atkinson in the tunnel at half-time at Stamford Bridge. The Black Cats boss was unhappy with a series of decisions, and revealed the referees' assessor had rung him after the match acknowledging two of Chelsea's goals should not have stood.

"I haven't got a problem with referees making mistakes," said Keane after being charged. "What would disappoint me, particularly over the last year and particularly this season, is the number of big decisions that have gone against our football club. But when it is constantly going against you, clearly bad decisions, then you have a right as a manager to question or ask an official at half-time."

Meanwhile, Sunderland have recalled the winger Carlos Edwards from his loan spell at Championship leaders Wolves. The Trinidad and Tobago international joined Wolves in October on a three-month deal but Sunderland have taken up an option to end the agreement early. Edwards, who represented his country in their 3-0 World Cup qualifying win over Cuba last night, played six games for Wolves and could feature for Sunderland in their Premier League meeting with West Ham on Sunday.