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Chelsea captain John Terry has been charged by the Football Association for his part in last season's incident with QPR defender Anton Ferdinand.
Terry, 31, is alleged to have used "abusive and/or insulting words and/or behaviour" in the 23 October match. The FA statement added: "It is further alleged that this included a reference to the ethnic origin and/or colour and/or race of Ferdinand."
England defender Terry denies the charge and wants a personal hearing. Earlier this month Terry was cleared at Westminster Magistrates' Court of racially abusing Ferdinand during the Premier League game between the west London sides.
It was alleged Terry had insulted Ferdinand, describing him as "black" and using extreme sexual swear words.
But in reaching a not guilty verdict, chief magistrate Howard Riddle stated it was "possible that what was said was not intended as an insult but rather as a challenge to what he believed had been said to him".
The prosecution had to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Terry had used the words in an insulting manner, which it could not.
But the FA only has to prove its case "on the balance of probabilities".
A statement on the FA website said Terry remained available to play for England pending the outcome of the case.
The governing body went on: "This charge is the result of the FA's long-standing enquiries into this matter, which were placed on hold pending the outcome of the criminal trial, and relates to rules governing football only."
Chelsea released their own statement on their club website.
"John Terry has denied an FA charge announced today and will be requesting the opportunity for a personal hearing," it read.
Ferdinand, 27, will not face any FA charge relating to the case.
Fabio Capello resigned as England manager in February after Terry was stripped of the captaincy because of the allegations.
Capello's successor Roy Hodgson included Terry in the squad that played in Euro 2012 last month.
