Arsenal and ManUre charged by FA

From BBC News:

Eight charged after bust-up

Arsenal and six of their players - plus two from Manchester United - have been charged by the Football Association after the stormy Premiership clash at Old Trafford.

The Gunners have been accused of failing to control their players in the goalless draw on Sunday.

And Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira - who was sent off - Martin Keown, Ashley Cole, Lauren, Ray Parlour and Jens Lehmann all face individual charges that could lead to suspensions.

Manchester United duo Ryan Giggs and Cristiano Ronaldo have also been charged by the FA after a review of video evidence of the ill-tempered climax to the game following Ruud van Nistelrooy’s last-minute penalty miss.

Arsenal, their players and those accused from Manchester United have 14 days to respond to the FA charges.

Manchester United issued a statement that read: “We have received the details of the charges from the FA and we are currently reviewing them internally with our lawyers, the manager and the players involved.

“Until that review is completed the club will make no further comment.”

The charges in full:

Arsenal: Charged with “failing to ensure the proper behaviour of their players”.

Lauren: Two counts of violent behaviour for “kicking out at Quinton Fortune following the penalty award and for forcibly pushing van Nistelrooy in the back following the final whistle”. Two counts of improper conduct for “confronting Ruud van Nistelrooy after Patrick Vieira’s sending-off, and for confronting Ryan Giggs after the final whistle”.

Keown: One charge of violent behaviour “for striking van Nistelrooy on the back of the head following the final whistle”. One charge of improper conduct for “confronting Van Nistelrooy following the penalty miss”.

Parlour: One charge of improper conduct for “confronting Van Nistelrooy after the final whistle”. One charge of violent behaviour for “grabbing at Gary Neville from behind shortly afterwards”.

Cole: One charge of improper conduct for “his involvement in a confrontation with Cristiano Ronaldo after the final whistle”.

Lehmann: One charge of improper conduct for “confronting referee Steve Bennett after Patrick Vieira’s second yellow card and for then persistently seeking to confront Van Nistelrooy”.

Vieira: One charge of improper conduct for “failing to leave the field of play following his sending-off, and for instead seeking to confront Van Nistelrooy and engaging in a verbal exchange with fourth official Neale Barry”.

Giggs: One charge of improper conduct for “his involvement in a confrontation with Lauren after the match had ended”.

Ronaldo: One charge of improper conduct for “confronting Martin Keown at the conclusion of the match”.
Phil Neville has, meanwhile, been warned as to his future conduct after a confrontation with Lauren, but his brother Gary and Manchester United as a club are not being charged by the FA.

Arsenal, however, could now face a suspension crisis, with Lauren facing four separate counts, including two of violent behaviour, the same serious charge which is faced by Keown and Parlour.