The Football Association have charged Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock with improper conduct. The charge relates to gestures made towards Norwich boss Nigel Worthington following the final whistle at Carrow Road on Saturday.

The Football Association have charged Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock with improper conduct.

The charge relates to gestures made towards Norwich boss Nigel Worthington following the final whistle at Carrow Road on Saturday.

Warnock, whose promotion-chasing side lost 2-1, has until April 4 to respond.

The charge will come as a shock to Warnock who was confident he would escape any action from the FA despite admitting flashing a V-sign at Worthington.

The Blades boss was furious the former Sheffield Wednesday defender ignored him and refused to shake his hand following the defeat, United's third in four games.

Warnock told the Yorkshire Post: “I won't deny I flipped my fingers in his direction, but only because I was so disgusted and frustrated at being humiliated by a fellow manager.

“If the same circumstances arose I would do the same again.

“I held out my hand for six or seven seconds but he kept on talking and turned his back. There was no mix-up, he even looked me in the eyes.

“I am sorry if it upset any fans. There was definitely no offence intended to anyone inside the ground apart from their staff.

“When the governing body looks at the incident I think they will decide to take no action.”

However, the Norwich boss criticised his Blades counterpart following the gesture, calling Warnock “disrespectful and unprofessional.”

“I didn't know anything about it until I saw it on television afterwards,'' admitted Worthington.

“At the time I didn't really hear or see anything. A few people mentioned it so I had a look.

“I am not bothered about it in any way, shape or form, but I did find it disrespectful and unprofessional.

“There is a manager's code of conduct - and that is definitely not in it.”

It will be the second time this season the FA have taken action against Warnock after he admitted a charge of abusive and/or insulting language towards a match official following the 2-1 defeat by Reading in October.

The Blades boss confronted Grant Hegley on the pitch after the referee turned down a late penalty with Reading going on to score a last-minute winner.

However, he escaped a touchline ban and was fined £750 and warned as to his future conduct.