Charlton boss Iain Dowie declared it was "ridiculous" to see fellow managers Alan Pardew and Arsene Wenger hit with an improper conduct charge following their touchline bust-up at Upton Park.

The two coaches had to be separated after Marlon Harewood's late winner for the home side last Sunday following celebrations by Pardew in the technical area.

Although the Hammers boss issued an apology immediately after the match, Frenchman Wenger - who refused to shake his rival's hand at the final whistle - has yet to make any public comment, choosing not to speak to the media again following Wednesday night's Carling Cup win at Everton.

The FA, meanwhile, have decided each man has a case to answer, and they have until November 23 to response.

Both managers have the right to request a personal hearing - and the footballing authorities have the power to impose a fine or even a touchline ban should the charge be proven.

Dowie, 41, is one of the top-flight's more animated managers - and believes "controlled" passion of the game has to be allowed to be expressed by the coaches from the dug-out.

The Charlton boss declared: "I do not want the game too sanitised, and the FA charge is ridiculous.

"Do you want people to just sit there and clap quietly when their team scores?

"The game is passionate and vibrant, we should not over-sanitise that.

"However, we have a responsibility not to get carried away.

"Maybe there was a bit of over-reaction, a bit of over-celebration, but it is certainly not something I would ever think needed an FA charge."

The Charlton boss maintained: "You do not want bland, grey, uninteresting characters, do you?

"Column inches would not be filled if [Chelsea manager] Jose [Mourinho] was not the way he is.

"You have got to have personality and I do not think the game should be devoid of personalities and you do not want manufactured personalities either.

"It is a passionate environment. Should passion be allowed? Yes. Should it be controlled passion? Absolutely."

Dowie recalled: "When I was at Oldham, it was never a problem having a set-to on the sideline.

"I would certainly have been on a lot more FA charges for the altercations we had in the lower leagues. You cannot change the way you are and have to be yourself.

"However, because of the focus and responsibility, you cannot let your emotions run away with you too much and do have to control things a little bit."

Last season Dowie was involved in an ugly touchline melee during the second leg of Crystal Palace's play-off semi-final against Watford.

Virtually every player, both managers and members of their coaching teams became involved, with plenty of arms raised from each side.

Dowie always maintained there was never any bad blood between himself and rival manager Adrian Boothroyd as a result.

"I thought I was very well controlled - normally I would have thrown a bit of leather," the Addicks boss quipped.

"I said at the time, there should have never been any question of Aidy being charged.

"It was a passionate encounter, there were not any real blows thrown and nobody got hurt."

Dowie insisted: "You cannot sanitise the game and I will not change who I am on the bench."

Boothroyd agreed with Dowie to such an extent that he also branded the FA "ridiculous" for throwing the book at Wenger and Pardew.

"It is ridiculous," Boothroyd said. "The FA should leave it alone and get on with things that are important.

"They should spend more time on grass-roots football, more time on educating coaches, and stop messing about with small things.

"I have a sign on the wall of my office which says: "It is not the same to talk of bulls as to be in the bullrings", and it is correct.

"The touchline is a lonely place, particularly if you are not winning. Sometimes tempers become a bit frayed, because there are a lot of tensions and stresses associated with this job.

"When your team score, you become over-excited. The FA's decision in this situation is daft. Both Arsene Wenger and Alan Pardew are genuinely good people who want to win."

Wigan boss Paul Jewell, meanwhile, has backed Pardew's right to celebrate.

After spending most of the season getting pilloried, Jewell believes his Hammers counterpart has every right to express his glee.

"Alan Pardew has been under pressure," observed Jewell.

"His team has been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons, then he gets a goal like that and Arsene Wenger didn't like it.

"I wouldn't like to say Alan was out of order but I do know Arsenal do not like losing. I am also getting fed up with top managers coming out moaning and groaning every time they lose.

"I have never yet heard them come out and say they deserved to lose - they either got kicked off the park, had no luck or it was the referee's fault - there is no grace in defeat."

Although Jewell accepts managers have to try to stay in control of their emotions, such are the prizes at stake in the modern game, he believes it is becoming increasingly difficult to do so, something he feels the game's authorities struggle to understand.

And he also fails to comprehend why supporters are not subjected to the same high standards, given he can be sworn at for an entire 90 minutes, then find himself under scrutiny if he has a go back.

"It gets intense in the dug-out," he said.

"As managers, we do things and say things we regret but show me someone who says they have never made a mistake and I will show you a liar.

"There is so much at stake in the Premiership these days and sometimes I don't feel the FA understand.

"You are living on the edge. One week you are a villain, the next you are a hero. You scrap for every point and every goal. You kick every ball and go for every header and tackle.

"Sometimes we say and do the wrong things but it is always done in the heat of the moment.

"Yes, we have to control our emotions but I hear people slaughtering me, effing and blinding for 90 minutes. As soon as I swear I have stewards all round me.

"There should not be a rule for managers and another one for the public. We should all live by the same laws."