Wenger punishment a warning to others

ARSENE WENGER was last night warned not to repeat his accusation of ‘cheating’ against Ruud van Nistelrooy as he received a record fine and a “severe reprimand” from the Football Association.

However, Arsenal steered clear of potentially reigniting Wenger’s row with Alex Ferguson by declining to use any video evidence of Van Nistelrooy’s alleged past misdemeanours at the hearing.

Wenger had denied the charge of improper conduct, which arose from his televised comments after Arsenal’s defeat at Old Trafford in October, when he declared of the Dutchman that “we all know him, he can only cheat people”.