Sport

Fair play to Arsenal for topping league

Two red cards and 12 misconduct charges into their Premiership season, Arsenal head the top flight's fair play league

Jon Brodkin
Wed Oct 15 2003 - 01:00

Two red cards and 12 misconduct charges into their Premiership season, Arsenal head the top flight's fair play league. Not since Carlisle United led the old first division can there have been a more unlikely name at a table's summit.

If Arsene Wenger must feel vindicated after repeatedly insisting that Arsenal are not thugs, Alex Ferguson and many neutrals are bound to shake their heads in amazement given Arsenal's behaviour at Old Trafford last month.

Patrick Vieira was sent off that afternoon and six Arsenal players have been charged by the Football Association with violent behaviour or improper conduct. The club has been charged with "failing to ensure the proper behaviour of their players".

Arsenal's Premiership disciplinary record had already been blemished by Sol Campbell's dismissal against Everton, and Robert Pires was accused of cheating to win a penalty against Portsmouth, though he denies that.

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Red and yellow cards and "respect towards opponents" are used to calculate the fair play table, but three other factors are taken into account and they explain why Arsenal lead from Chelsea, Manchester United and Leicester. Wenger's team has scored more points than any other for "positive play" and "respect towards the referee", and are joint leaders for the behaviour of their officials on the sidelines.

A Premier League spokesman said the league was judged on "UEFA-set criteria" and explained: "Delegates, in conjunction with match officials, at every Premier League match assess the teams in each area from which an aggregate score is taken to form the fair play league table."

Prize money of £30,000 will be awarded to the league's winners.

The FA confirmed that Arsenal and United responded to their respective charges by yesterday's deadline and wants to hear the cases as soon as possible. A date could be fixed for October 30th or 31st.

Luis Boa Morte has been charged with improper conduct by the FA after appearing to stamp on Leicester's Frank Sinclair when the sides met on October 4th.

And Middlesbrough's Franck Queudrue has been charged with violent behaviour after his alleged stamp on Kevin Phillips at Southampton last month.