Mark Allen is facing a disciplinary charge after snooker's governing body started proceedings against him for his comments following his first-round defeat at the World Championship.

Allen claimed that his Chinese opponent Cao Yupeng failed to declare an illegal push shot during his surprise 10-6 win over the Northern Irishman.

The WPBSA said Allen would be given 14 days to respond to the charge.

Allen was fined £1,000 for comments about the World Open venue in China.

At his post-match press conference on Sunday, Allen also made wider allegations that Chinese players on the circuit had been involved in "fouls and blatant cheating".

WPBSA chairman Jason Ferguson said that the governing body took "very seriously comments made which could be perceived to be directed at a particular nation".

World Snooker chairman Barry Hearn also made clear his displeasure at Allen's remarks.

"To effectively accuse your opponent of cheating is looked on as bringing the game into disrepute," said Hearn.

"Time and time again Mark seems unable to control himself in his public statements. Sometimes I am speechless."

In response to Allen's accusation of dishonesty on the part of Cao, Hearn added: "Players have rules written in their contracts and they are not allowed to say certain things.

"If they do, they are in breach of tournament regulations and will come under a disciplinary process."

Hearn also welcomed the news that Allen has closed his Twitter account  as it was also revealed that the Northern Irishman had been fined £1,000 for criticisms of the tournament location at the recent World Open in China.

"People must realise Twitter is out there in the public domain so you have to be careful what you say.

"Whether there has been a push shot or not is pretty much academic - it's the slant of the comments that Mark made afterwards.

"He had the chance to say to the referee that he believed he had made a mistake, but did not take that opportunity."

Allen, 26, could face a fine, suspension or expulsion if found guilty of bringing the sport into disrepute.

The Antrim player, who admits he was "completely outplayed" by the world number 81, claimed Cao failed to declare an illegal push shot when leading 5-4.

No foul was given and the 26-year-old Northern Irishman eventually lost 10-6.

"I'm disgusted. The state of snooker is very sad if it has to be down to that, but it's not the first time," said Allen after the game.

It is not the first time that Allen has caused controversy on the circuit.

In March, he took to his Twitter account  to criticise conditions at China's Haikou World Open as "horrendous".

"Dead cat found this morning," he tweeted. "Any wonder this place stinks. Must be dead cats all round the town."

He went on to win the event and later stood by his comments, insisting: "It would be nicer to play tournaments in the UK, but I have to go where the money is."

In December, he called on World Snooker chairman Hearn to resign after changes were made to the format of major tournaments.

"I've got no doubt he'll tweak the World Championship," Allen said at the time. "The whole tradition of the game is going to pot."

Allen was fined for the Hearn outburst before receiving another financial penalty for his comments at the World Open.