Liverpool's Mascherano admits improper conduct

Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano has admitted a Football Association charge of improper conduct and asked for a personal hearing, the FA said. The Argentine was charged on Wednesday after being sent off in Sunday's 3-0 defeat at Manchester United.

Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano has admitted a Football Association charge of improper conduct and asked for a personal hearing, the FA said.

The Argentine was charged on Wednesday after being sent off in Sunday's 3-0 defeat at Manchester United. Mascherano reacted badly to the red card and had to be ushered off by Liverpool staff and team mates.

The hearing has been set for next Thursday, the FA said on its Web site (www.thefa.com).

Mascherano was sent off by referee Steve Bennett just before halftime. Already booked for a foul, the Argentine was shown a second yellow card in the 44th minute for questioning the booking of team mate Fernando Torres.

Mascherano, who played for Argentina in a friendly against Egypt in Cairo on Wednesday, is serving an automatic one-match suspension and misses the Merseyside derby against Everton at Anfield on Sunday.

He could be suspended for longer if declared guilty of improper conduct.

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