Aston Villa manager Dean Smith has been charged by the Football Association for allegedly using abusive language towards the referee in their Premier League defeat by Manchester City, which earned him a red card.

Smith was angry with match officials after Bernardo Silva scored the opening goal in City's 2-0 win when his teammate Rodri came back into play from an offside position before nicking the ball off Villa's Tyrone Mings to set up the goal.

Referee Jon Moss showed Smith a red card on the touchline when he continued his protests and the Villa manager said after the game that the decision to allow the goal to stand was "farcical".

"It is alleged that the manager used abusive and/or insulting language towards a match official during the 81st minute," the FA said in a statement, adding that he has until January 26 to respond to the charge.

Earlier this month, Wolverhampton Wanderers coach Nuno Espirito Santo was fined Stg25,000 ($A44,224) and warned about his future conduct after saying referee Lee Mason did "not have the quality to whistle a game in the Premier League".