FA reject 'Buffet Battle' dossier

13 April 2012

The FA last night delivered a major snub to Sir Alex Ferguson as Arsenal escaped punishment for last month's Battle of the Buffet beyond a lone misconduct charge for manager Arsene Wenger.

The Highbury boss was charged with improper conduct for calling Ruud van Nistelrooy a 'cheat' in the aftermath of the Old Trafford clash, but is expected to receive nothing more serious than a fine and a warning over his future conduct.

However, the game's governing body confirmed they will not be taking any action over the post-match tunnel bustup which left Ferguson covered in soup and pizza, nor will they be charging any individual Arsenal players over incidents from the game itself.

The verdict will enrage Ferguson, who helped United put together a dossier of evidence for the FA which included statements from witnesses in the tunnel and cited Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry for violent offences during the match.

Ferguson had said: 'We're being proactive in doing this investigation. We've done it without being asked by the FA. What we send will be so clear cut that they will need to do something.'

The United manager clearly expected widespread charges of the kind which followed Arsenal's previous visit to Old Trafford 14 months ago, when Van Nistelrooy was taunted by a pack of Wenger's players after missing a late penalty.

Now the Dutch striker, who was banned for three matches by the FA for an ugly tackle on Ashley Cole, will be the only player to be punished over this season's match.

The United dossier failed to reach Soho Square within the 48-hour limit for such observations and Ferguson's dismay will hardly be eased by FA chairman Geoff Thompson demanding a meeting with the two clubs and the Premier League to try to prevent problems in the future.

Thompson's intervention followed a fortnight of angry exchanges between the clubs, culminating in Ferguson accusing Wenger of having a 'mental block' over United striker Van Nistelrooy.

The Frenchman has until November 23 to respond to his charge laid under FA Rule E3, a catch-all regulation that relates to improper conduct that might bring the game into disrepute.

The Arsenal boss told the BBC after the game: 'We know how Van Nistelrooy behaves. He can only cheat people - we know him very well.'

He then added a further attack the following day in which he advised the United striker to 'concentrate on his football', adding: 'What is he doing getting involved in silly things? There was another occasion in the second half when he steps on Jens Lehmann on purpose. 'He always does it like he's innocent. Play football, my friend, and forget about all the rest. Who do you want to impress by doing that?'

The comments are likely to get Wenger a hefty fine and a written warning. But it is unlikely he will receive a touchline ban since the remarks were made away from the playing area.

The FA have also contacted United and Greater Manchester Police as they investigate whether Robbie Fowler made obscene gestures to the crowd at Old Trafford on Sunday during the derby game.The former Liverpool and Leeds striker, a Manchester City substitute, is alleged to have gestured at United fans as he warmed up on the touchline.

His manager Kevin Keegan suggested after the match that United fans abuse Fowler because he has played for Liverpool, Leeds and Manchester City, 'the three clubs they hate'.

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