DW Stadium player facing suspension.
Wigan Athletic’s Antolin Alcaraz has been charged with spitting at Wolves defender Richard Stearman, the Football Association have confirmed.
The 29-year-old is now facing a three match ban after TV cameras appeared to catch him spitting at the opponent during the Latics 3-1 defeat at Molineux.
“Wigan Athletic’s Antolin Alcaraz has today been charged by The FA for spitting at an opponent,” the governing body said in a statement.
“The incident, which was not seen by the match officials but caught on video, relates to his side’s game against Wolverhampton Wanderers (yesterday).
“The player has until 6pm on November 8, 2011 to respond to the charge. If the player admits the charge he may accept an automatic three match suspension.”
The FA will review footage of the 83rd-minute incident, when Alcaraz became embroiled in a heated exchange with Christophe Berra.
The Wolves defender patted his opponent on the head after the Paraguay defender went down claiming a penalty during Wigan’s eighth successive defeat, which keeps them bottom of the Premier League.
Several team-mates rushed to keep the players apart as TV pictures showed Alcaraz spit in the direction of Berra, but Stearman confirmed it was he who had been hit.
El-Hadji Diouf was banned for three matches and fined two-weeks wages by Bolton after he was retrospectively charged for spitting at Arjan de Zeeuw in 2004.