tobia, eo nomine

The Football Association has charged 6 members of the Arsenal squad and two members of the United squad after the events that took place over the weekend at Old Trafford.

Patrick Viera, Martin Keown, Ashley Cole, Lauren, Ray Parlour, Jens Lehmann and coach Arsene Wenger are facing charges for the Arsenal side. Ryan Giggs and Cristiano Ronaldo face charges for United. All parties have 14 days to respond to the charges. Phil Neville was warned by the FA for his future conduct, but United as a club were not charged.

The FA’s website, www.theFA.com, revealed that the full charge sheet is:

Arsenal – charged with ‘failing to ensure the proper behaviour of their players’.

Lauren – 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’ and 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’.

Keown – one charge of improper conduct for ‘confronting van Nistelrooy following the penalty miss’ and one charge of violent behaviour ‘for striking van Nistelrooy on the back of the head following the final whistle’.

Parlour – one charge of improper conduct for ‘confronting van Nistelrooy after the final whistle’ and a further 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’.

More information and an official statement from Manchester United can be found on Soccernet.