Patrick Vieira has been handed a one-match ban and fined £10,000 by a Football Association disciplinary panel, following a video panel review of Arsenal's ill-tempered clash with Leeds United last November. The controversial Frenchman, who was red-carded on the opening day of the season, was been judged on two separate incidents, and was found guilty of kicking fellow Frenchman Olivier Dacourt.
However, the World Cup and European Championship winner was cleared of headbutting Norwegian midfielder Eirik Bakke. Referee Dermot Gallacher missed both incidents during the match in which seven Arsenal players were cautioned, but called on video evidence to resolve the matter.
The Gunners had been clinging to Gallacher's earlier assertion that, having himself watched the two incidents on video, he judged them no worse than similar ones that take place in matches every week. And with Vieira's recent exemplary disciplinary record very much to his advantage, just one booking in his last 25 matches, boss Arsene Wenger was hoping that the FA's disciplinary panel would deliver a not guilty verdict for the second time in a week - after seeing his own 12-match touchline ban overturned on appeal last week.
Vieira will serve his one match ban this weekend when Ipswich Town visit Highbury in the Premiership.
Filed by Shane Murray
