Soccer: Arsenal's push for the title is in danger of being derailed by suspensions, after post-match clashes between their players and those of Manchester United were referred by the Football Association to its video-advisory panel.
The referee Steve Bennett reported incidents involving Lauren, Martin Keown, Freddie Ljungberg, Ashley Cole, Edu and Ray Parlour during and immediately after Sunday's 0-0 draw at Old Trafford. The FA is seeking a swift resolution and is expected to bring charges today or tomorrow.
Keown is believed to be facing two charges of misconduct and Parlour one. It is anticipated Lauren and Cole will be charged with violent conduct for appearing to confront opponents physically, an offence which carries a minimum three-match ban. Lauren is understood to be under investigation for an allegation of "physical intimidation of a match official" after appearing to make contact with an assistant referee.
"The FA will now review the video tapes in detail and as a matter of urgency," the ruling body said in a statement yesterday. "The FA have also requested further videos of the various incidents from different camera angles. The (video-advisory panel) will be looking at various aspects of player behaviour during the match and in the scenes following the final whistle."
Further charges are possible, though some players are expected to escape with cautions and fines. However, Keown had been booked and any further caution - the likely minimum punishment for his over-the-top celebrations of a missed penalty by Ruud van Nistelrooy - would earn him a one-match ban.
United will not escape censure either and the conduct of several of their players, notably Gary Neville, who appeared to swing a punch at Parlour after the final whistle, will be under review.
If the FA decides to bring charges against several players, Arsenal may also be indicted under Rule E21a for failing to control their players. In extremis this can result in points being docked - as happened to Arsenal (two) and Manchester United (one) after the so-called Brawl of Old Trafford in 1990. It is unlikely that will be the case this time, however.
That said, there will be an impact on their season. Vieira's one-match suspension for the two yellow cards he received keeps him out of Chelsea's visit next month, and that punishment may be extended if the FA believes he has a case to answer over reports he clashed with van Nistelrooy in the tunnel after the match. Vieira hoped the second yellow which prompted his dismissal would be rescinded, believing the referee had been duped by the Dutchman's exaggerated reaction when the midfielder lashed out with a foot.
"I haven't got a lot to say about the first yellow card because the referee said it was my third successive foul," said Vieira. "But the second for the thing with van Nistelrooy, that's scandalous. The way the bloke reacted is intolerable. I absolutely didn't touch him and I hope the referee reviews the pictures and takes back that yellow."
The Frenchman will be disappointed because Bennett feels justified in his decision to book Vieira for "unsporting conduct".
