Todd escapes sanction over van Persie clash
The FA disciplinary commission found the charge of violent conduct made against Todd not proven, ending a torrid few days for the centre-back.
Todd had pleaded not guilty to the charge after the incident during Rovers’ 3-0 defeat at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium. Van Persie had just scored the Gunners’ final goal when he was accidentally elbowed in the face by Todd.
Bolton striker El-Hadji Diouf is to be summonsed to face magistrates over an alleged spitting incident involving fans at Middlesbrough.
The Senegalese international, on loan from Liverpool, is accused of disorderly conduct following an incident at the Riverside Stadium in November where he appeared to spit a mouthful of drink into the crowd after being substituted.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has been considering charges since a Boro fan complained the 24-year-old spat at him during the 1-1 draw in November 2004.
Diouf will face magistrates on Teesside at a later date for disorderly conduct under section five of the Public Order Act 1986.
Diouf, twice named African Player of the Year, has gained a bad-boy reputation after a number of spitting incidents.
In March 2003 while playing for Liverpool, he was caught spitting towards Celtic fans during a UEFA Cup quarter-final draw at Parkhead and was later fined £5,000 after pleading guilty to assault under provocation. He was also banned for two matches by UEFA.
In September 2004 he was banned for three international matches after being found guilty of violent conduct in the African Nations Cup quarter-final with Tunisia.
In November he was accused of the Middlesbrough incident and later that month accused of spitting in the face of Portsmouth captain Arjan de Zeeuw during a Premiership match.
He was fined two weeks’ wages by Bolton, charged by the FA with improper conduct and banned for three matches.
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