Hartlepool United manager Dave Challinor charged with improper conduct and fined by the Football Association following red card against Ebbsfleet United in March

Challinor was shown a straight red card in the aftermath of Pools’ 1-0 defeat to Ebbsfleet United at Victoria Park in what would prove to be his side’s final home match of the 2019-20 campaign.

The disappointing result aside, it was a day to forget for Hartlepool as a number of unsavoury scenes came about both during and after the match.

Two separate allegations of racist/xenophobic abuse were made by the Ebbsfleet players during the match – four months on and no further comments have been made on the incidents.

After the match, Challinor took to the field and was at the centre of a coming together involving Fleet defender Ayo Obileye and Pools mascot H’Angus the Monkey. Both Challinor and Obileye were sent off by referee Aaron Jackson.

Following the match, the Hartlepool manager felt he was innocent of any serious wrongdoing as he said: “I’m adamant in the fact that I’ve done nothing in terms of violent conduct or whatever it is reported as, so we’ll see where that is and see what the wording of the report is that we get.

“I spoke to the referee and linesman after the game and it was the linesman who reported seeing something with the Ebbsfleet player.

“I’m not going to sit here and lie because I know there are videos out there and I’m comfortable with where I am in my situation.

“We will see what comes back and act upon that.”

The report claimed Challinor was in breach of FA Rule E3 involving violent or improper conduct on the field of play, which Challinor denied.

A personal hearing was requested which failed to prove Challinor’s innocence as he was charged, fined £300 and handed a three-match touchline ban.

He will serve the first match of his ban when the 2020-21 season gets under way.

Obileye, who was sent off alongside Challinor, did not appeal the decision and was handed a three-match ban back in March.