FA charges 6 Arsenal, 2 Man Utd players

LONDON (AP) -- The English Football Association charged six Arsenal players and two from Manchester United on Wednesday in connection with a bad-tempered exchange following Sunday's scoreless draw at Old Trafford.

The Arsenal players included Patrick Vieira, defender Martin Keown, Ashley Cole, Lauren, Ray Parlour and 'keeper Jens Lehmann.

Ryan Giggs and Cristiano Ronaldo were the United players.

All were charged with improper conduct and could be suspended, fined or both. Keown was also charged with violent behavior.

The Arsenal club was charged with misconduct for "failing to ensure the proper behavior of their players."

The FA also asked Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger to explain comments he made concerning United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy.

United's Phil Neville, who clashed with Lauren, got a warning but brother Gary Neville wasn't singled out. Gary Neville reportedly tried to punch a player.

Both clubs have two weeks to respond to the charges.

"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," a Manchester United statement said. "Until that review is completed, the club will make no further comment."

Several Arsenal players pushed and taunted Van Nistelrooy after he missed a penalty in second-half injury time. Keown, whose foul led to the penalty, leaped and made contact with the Dutch forward when the game ended. Lauren -- facing two counts of improper conduct -- pushed him with Parlour close by. Other players clashed at midfield.

Wenger was critical of Van Nistelrooy following the game.

"Van Nistelrooy does not help himself," he said. "He's a great player, but his attitude is always provoking and diving. He looks a nice boy, but on the pitch, he doesn't always show fair behavior."

Vieira was sent off in the 80th minute for aiming a kick at van Nistelrooy -- he didn't make contact. The charge was for not leaving the field immediately following the card.

"It exploded in a way that anyone who cares about the game will not like," said Gordon Taylor, the head of the Professional Footballers' Association. "It was not setting the best example and just added fuel to the fire for the critics of the game who say the behavior of players can spark off trouble with supporters. As a result, it's saddened everybody."

Arsenal has had 52 players dismissed during Wenger's tenure at Highbury, with Vieira's eight red cards the most for any player since the Premier League was formed in the early '90s. Earlier in the week, chairman Peter Hill-Wood said his team was guilty of "stupid behavior."

In a statement by the club's board of directors, Arsenal said Wenger spoke to his players about what happened Sunday.

"The board is taking this matter seriously and intends to meet in the near future to further discuss the events of last Sunday.

"At this juncture, we do not have the video evidence supplied to the Football Association and are not going to jump to any premature conclusions.

"The club demands high standards both on and off the field, and the board believes these were not met last Sunday.

"Arsene Wenger has already addressed the players on this issue."

Sunday's display was reminiscent of Arsenal's win against United in 1990. More than 20 players were involved in a brawl, and the FA docked United one point and the Gunners two.

"I'm hoping things can calm down, and we can start doing what football should be about and putting a smile on the face of people," said Taylor.