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FA charges Newcastle's Rafa Benitez for referee comments

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Steve Nicol is not surprised at all with Newcastle's promotion under Rafa Benitez, who's reputation continues to grow.

Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez has been landed with a misconduct charge from the Football Association following comments made about the appointment of Andy Madley as referee for the match against Preston.

The Spaniard had raised the issue of Huddersfield-born Madley taking charge of what was at the time a crucial game in the promotion race when Preston visited St James' Park on Monday April 24, which Newcastle went on to win 4-1.

Madley was born in Huddersfield and his hometown club were then potentially still in the race for automatic promotion, which Newcastle and Brighton have since secured.