"The FA has today charged Manchester United's Wayne Rooney for the use of offensive, insulting and/or abusive language relating to an incident during his side's fixture with West Ham United," the statement said.
"Rooney has until 6pm on April 5 to respond to the charge."
If he accepts the charge, Rooney will miss United's home league match against Fulham on Saturday and the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City at Wembley on April 16.
He would, however, be free to play in both legs of the Champions League quarter-final against Chelsea as that game comes under the auspices of UEFA and not the FA.
The England striker, 25, apologised for his outburst soon after the match, saying he swore "in the heat of the moment" after completing a 14-minute hat-trick and that his words "were not aimed at anyone in particular."
On-Air Apology
Saturday's Premier League game at Upton Park was televised live around the world by Sky Sports and the incident prompted an on-air apology from the broadcaster.
Rooney also criticised England fans during last year's World Cup finals in South Africa when he shouted into a TV camera as he walked off the field at the end of a dismal goalless draw with Algeria. Rooney's actions sparked pages of debate in Monday's newspapers and took the gloss off his hat-trick which helped United turn around a 2-0 halftime deficit to win the match and move seven points clear at the top of the table.
Madrid: Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp has criticised Wayne Rooney after the Manchester United striker was charged with using foul language while celebrating a goal in Saturday's 4-2 win at West Ham United.
The England international faces a two-match ban if he accepts the charge, which would rule him out of United's league match against Fulham and the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City at Wembley.
"Why is he so angry?" Redknapp asked at a news conference in Madrid on Monday ahead of Tottenham's Champions League match against Real.
"I don't remember Bobby Charlton doing it when he scored," he added, referring to the former United and England midfielder, a World Cup winner in 1966.
"Why do they have to be so angry with the world these young footballers earning hundreds of thousands pounds a week?"
"I respect him a great deal as a player but he's a silly boy and he shouldn't have done it."
Rooney apologised for his outburst soon after the match, saying he swore in the heat of the moment after completing a 14-minute hat-trick.
