A LINESMAN is facing a Football Association investi-gation after being accused of abusing a club after officiating at one of its games.

Rishton-based Neil Yates was hit by a cigarette lighter thrown from the stands at Blackpool FC's Bloomfield Road during their 4-2 League One win over Doncaster Rovers on Tuesday.

The FA probe was prompted when comments attributed to his user nickname Fox appeared on the ClaretsMad website, used by Burnley fans.

They included calling Blackpool a team of 'donkeylashers' -- a derogatory term used by rival fans, which refers to the animals used to give holiday rides on the beach.

The messages described the club's stadium as being 'half-finished' and spoke of anger after the linesman was the subject of chants from home fans after saving a Doncaster player from being sent off.

One message said: "As on any other tough game, I consoled myself with the fact that they (the Doncaster fans) had taken a day off work, spent six hours on congested motorways, eaten less than edible pies for tea, sat on a freezing cold open stand for two hours, paid up to £20 for the privilege, seen their team perform abysmally, and got beaten by a team of donkey lashers.

"And to cap it all they wouldn't get home for closing time, whereas I earned over £150, and was enjoying a nice pint in an upstairs lounge by 10.30pm."

The message was removed within hours by moderators on the site, who said in a statement that 'they had taken advice from Mr Yates.'

But by that time, it had already been reported to the Football League, which referred it to their refereeing board.

A spokesman said: "The Football League has contacted the official, who has agreed to stop his contributions, and we are carrying out further investigations. Neil thought he was being helpful and educational and trying to explain the things that happen to officials during a match. However, we have advised him to stop writing on the site.

"We don't sweep things like this under the carpet. I have sent this matter on to the FA, who will decide what action to take."

A spokesman for the FA said: "We have been informed of this incident on the website and are looking into it at the moment.

"We need to see if it constitutes improper conduct, and then decide what action to take."

Neither Mr Yates nor Blackpool FC could be contacted for comment today.

Fellow users of the ClaretsMad website have voiced support for Mr Yates, and criticised whoever reported the message to the Football League. The incident involving the lighter is also being probed by the FA.