Wenger to face Ruud 'cheat' charge

ARSENAL BOSS Arsene Wenger has been charged with improper conduct for his outspoken criticism of Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy after his side's defeat at Old Trafford.

And while no further disciplinary action is expected following the FA's investigation of an alleged tunnel incident at Old Trafford, both clubs have been invited to attend a peace meeting.

The FA are determined to clear the air following the controversial Old Trafford clash on October 24, which followed the ugly melee in the same fixture last season.

Wenger, who has until November 23 to respond to the charge, will face a possible fine and official censure from the FA if he is found guilty.

The Arsenal boss, who had first been angered by van Nistelrooy's role in Patrick Vieira's red card at Old Trafford last year, was distinctly unimpressed with his ensuing foul on Ashley Cole, for which he subsequently earned a three-match ban.

Wenger declared in a BBC TV interview: "We know how Ruud van Nistelrooy behaves. He can only cheat people we know him very well."

The FA asked the Frenchman to explain his comments, which he has subsequently insisted that he stands by.

An FA official commented: "The charge relates to his comment about Manchester United's Ruud van Nistelrooy in a post-match media interview after the Premier League match at Old Trafford on Sunday, October 24. He has until November 23 to respond to the charge. There will be no formal disciplinary action on any other matters related to the match.

Alex Ferguson, meanwhile, will not be facing FA action following his own outspoken comments in the wake of United's goalless draw against Manchester City on Sunday.

The United boss had declared: "We're suffering because of what happened against Arsenal [in being awarded a controversial penalty]. One of my players would have to be hit by an axe to get a penalty at the moment. I've seen the two incidents again and they were both penalties."

While Ferguson's comments were not deemed to be serious enough to warrant official action, Wenger, who was also highly critical of Mike Riley following last month's game, was charged for effectively calling van Nistelrooy a "cheat."

That did little to help relations between the two clubs, with Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein and United chief executive David Gill having twice held talks designed to end the war of words between the two clubs over the past couple of weeks.

That, however, did not stop United compiling a file of information on various alleged incidents at Old Trafford, including claims of a tunnel confrontation which is said to have seen Ferguson struck by soup and a slice of pizza.

The FA concluded there was not enough evidence to bring charges on any alleged tunnel incidents, while Ferguson's claims of violent conduct against Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry were made after the 48-hour deadline for examining video evidence.

The FA are now determined to ensure that two of the country's leading clubs are seen to call a truce in what is turning into an unedifying rivalry.

Thompson will therefore look to broker a meeting between representatives of the two clubs presumably Dein and Gill, rather than Ferguson and Wenger in the next few weeks.