Arsenal admit FA charges

13 April 2012

Arsenal today admitted nine separate misconduct charges including failing to control their players in the brawl which marred their draw at Manchester United last month.

Arsenal face a suspension crisis and a sizeable fine after admitting the overall charge of failing to control their players during the ugly scenes which occurred during and immediately after the game at Old Trafford on 21 September.

Martin Keown, Ray Parlour, Patrick Vieira, Ashley Cole and Lauren face punishment by the Football Association after admitting a mixture of charges, including improper conduct and violent behaviour.

The FA today announced that they had received the responses from both clubs but Arsenal have surrendered their right to have personal hearings for the players charged following the postmatch fracas after an ill tempered Old Trafford clash.

The number of players who will appear before the FA was reduced from six to five after an improper conduct charge for German goalkeeper Jens Lehmann was withdrawn, although the German goalkeeper has been warned about his future conduct .

The FA, who will set dates for the hearings later this week, issued a statement saying: "Arsenal FC have admitted the charge of failing to ensure the proper behaviour of their players. This constitutes a breach of FA Rule E21(a).

Ashley Cole has admitted the charge of improper conduct (breach of FA Rule E1) for his involvement in a confrontation with Cristiano Ronaldo after the final whistle.

Patrick Vieira has admitted the charge of improper conduct for failing to leave the field of play following his sending-off.

Ray Parlour has admitted two charges of improper conduct for separate confrontat ions with Ruud van Nistelrooy and Gary Neville after the final whistle.

The charges of improper conduct and violent behaviour brought against Martin Keown for his actions towards van Nistelrooy will be considered together as one charge of violent behaviour (breach of FA Rule E2), which Keown has admitted.

Lauren has admitted a charge of violent behaviour, for forcibly pushing van Nistelrooy in the back following the final whistle. He has also admitted two charges of improper conduct, for confronting van Nistelrooy after Patrick Vieira's sending-off, and for kicking out at Manchester United's Quinton Fortune following the penalty award.

Another charge of improper conduct, relating to his actions towards Ryan Giggs after the final whistle, has been withdrawn following consideration of submissions provided.

The charge of improper conduct against Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann, for his behaviour towards match officials, will be withdrawn but he will be warned as to his future conduct.

In addition, Ryan Giggs has denied the charge of improper conduct for his involvement in a confrontation with Lauren after the match had ended, and Cristiano Ronaldo has denied the charge of improper conduct for confronting Martin Keown, also at the conclusion of the match."

Dates for hearings for the above cases will be scheduled in due course.

The game at Old Trafford ended in a 0-0 draw.

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Arsenal admit FA charges

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