Van Nistelrooy cheated me - Vieira

Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira accused Ruud van Nistelrooy of attempting to stamp on him at Old Trafford as he joined Arsene Wenger in labelling the Dutchman a cheat.

An angry war of words erupted after the final whistle of the goalless draw, with Alex Ferguson describing Wenger’s outspoken criticism of van Nistelrooy as “terrible”.

The Arsenal boss claimed the Dutchman over-reacted when Vieira kicked out at him in retaliation and was shown a second yellow card even though he failed to make any contact.

“Van Nistelrooy kicked Patrick with his right leg after he had made the foul. That is why I think he should have gone as well,” argued Wenger.

“Van Nistelrooy does not help himself, frankly. He is a great player but his attitude is always provoking and diving. He looks a nice boy but, on the pitch, he does not always show fair behaviour.

“If Patrick had to go off van Nistelrooy should have gone off. He (Vieira) is 100% sure that van Nistelrooy caught him.”

Vieira was similarly angered by van Nistelrooy’s reaction and may appeal for referee Steve Bennett, who also sent off Francis Jeffers in last month’s Community Shield, to review yesterday’s decision.

Vieira declared: “I am very angry with Ruud van Nistelrooy, not the referee. He made the more of the challenge than he should have done and he cheated. He tried to stamp on me.”

The problem now for Vieira, however, is twofold.

Not only would he have to rely on Bennett overturning his own decision as there is no automatic right of appeal to a second yellow card.

But just as David Beckham was sent off at the 1998 World Cup against Argentina, so there has to be only intent – and not necessarily any contact - for a red card, let alone a caution, to be issued.

Ferguson also defended van Nistelrooy’s reputation as his rivalry with Wenger seemed to reach a new low point.

“I have heard Arsene Wenger’s comments and I am disappointed by them as I think that what he said is terrible,” he told MUTV.

“Ruud van Nistelrooy has fouled Patrick Vieira and Patrick has reacted. Ruud has just tried to get out of the way, he has not dived. The referee was there and he saw it.

“I am backing Ruud absolutely. The great thing about today is that we have television evidence and I am very disappointed at Arsene Wenger’s comments in branding him a cheat.

“If I was to talk about Arsenal in the same manner, it would create headlines which would run for days.

“Ruud did not dive, he was reacting to something. What was he supposed to do? He looked shocked that Patrick Vieira would do something like that.

“We know he didn’t touch him but there was still intent there. He just looked at the referee as if to say ‘what is he doing?’ That is what I thought too.”

As for Wenger’s claim that Vieira had been provoked by van Nistelrooy, the United boss added: “I am not even going to get into that, it’s so silly.”