LONDON, Nov 30 - England and Chelsea captain John Terry was charged with improper conduct by the Football Association (FA) on Thursday for comments he made about referee Graham Poll following his sending off against Tottenham Hotspur.

The defender said Poll had given him conflicting reasons for his second yellow card and subsequent dismissal in the 2-1 league defeat at White Hart Lane on November 5. "This claim is denied by Graham Poll. The charge has been brought on the basis that John Terry's comments question Graham Poll's integrity and therefore constitute improper conduct," the FA said in a statement.

Terry has until December 15 to respond to the charge.

The FA also said Poll had been cleared of saying anything inappropriate towards Chelsea players during the same match regarding their discipline.