Premiership: Dacourt - I gave evidence to help Vieira

Olivier Dacourt believes he prevented Patrick Vieira from receiving an eight match ban for an FA violent conduct charge.

Vieira was caught on camera seemingly head butting Eirik Bakke and kicking Dacourt in the throat during the 1-0 defeat at Elland Road in November.

But the Leeds midfielder has revealed how he quickly wrote to the FA to defend Vieira, claiming there was no malice in the challenge.

Although seven Arsenal players were booked during the match, Vieira was not one of them, but he was later charged after the Video Advisory Panel reviewed footage of the game.

Having been sent off in each of the opening two games of the season, Vieira faced the prospect of a lengthy suspension and potential record-breaking fine.

But Dacourt's evidence may have influenced the disciplinary committee, who dismissed the incident involving Bakke.

But under the FA's own disciplinary guidelines, the France international should still have been hit with a three-match ban given the charge, only to escape with a one-match suspension and a £10,000 fine.

Dacourt revealed: "His (Vieira) action was a deliberate one.

"But if I hadn't written that letter he could have been suspended for eight matches and fined £60,000."

The panel, however, pointed to Vieira's "improved disciplinary record" as the principle reason for their leniency.