Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has defended banned midfielder Patrick Vieira by arguing that players commit worse offences every week without being punished. "I have heard some nasty things said on the pitch...you hear worse every week," he said. "You know as well as I do that you could find players every week that should get punished for using abusive language."
Vieira was banned for two matches and fined by the Football Association (FA) for using insulting language to referee Andy D'Urso after being sent off during the English champions' premier league match at Chelsea in September.
Wenger, speaking after Arsenal's decision not to appeal against the decision on Friday, told reporters: "I don't want to say we are unfairly picked on." But he added: "Patrick was shocked and disappointed at the punishment, but you must ask the referee if he has (a specific problem with Vieira).
"I don't know who pushed D'Urso to charge Patrick...sometimes referees go overboard at the start of a season. But what you can say is that the FA (should) punish everyone the same...of course, they must keep to the same guidelines."
Vieira conceded that, after earning his red card against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, he told D'Urso he had 'no personality'. But the France midfielder was cleared of the charge of using abusive language towards D'Urso.
Filed by Sinéad Kissane
