Gunners and Chelsea appeal red cards

Arsenal and Chelsea have lodged appeals with the Football Association following the dismissal of key players during last weekend’s FA Cup fifth-round ties.

Bergkamp was sent off during the first half of the Gunners’ 1-1 draw with Sheffield United for "violent conduct" by referee Neale Barry after the Dutchman raised his hands to Blades defender Danny Cullip.

Bergkamp pleaded his innocence on the pitch and now Arsenal have followed up with a formal appeal that will be heard by the FA’s disciplinary commission tomorrow.

Cudicini will also learn tomorrow whether or not he will be cleared to play in Sunday’s Carling Cup final with Liverpool.

The Italian was dismissed in the latter stages of Chelsea’s 1-0 defeat against Newcastle at St James’ Park after bringing down Shola Ameobi just outside the Chelsea penalty area.

Match official Mark Halsey deemed Cudicini to have "denied an obvious goalscoring opportunity", although TV replays indicated Ameobi was heading away from goal when he was sent clattering to the ground.

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho had promised Cudicini he would play in this weekend’s Millennium Stadium showpiece after playing second fiddle to Petr Cech for much of the campaign.

However, unless the appeal is successful, Cech will turn out against Liverpool as Mourinho looks to secure his first silverware since arriving at Stamford Bridge in the summer.

Meanwhile, the FA have confirmed they are in talks with Everton and Burnley over the violence that scarred this weekend’s high-profile cup ties.

Roy Carroll was struck by a coin at Goodison Park on Saturday, while Wayne Rooney was pelted with missiles on his first return to his former club as football showed its ugly face once more.

Those disgraceful scenes have been blamed on the 5.30pm kick-off, although the same excuse could not be used at Turf Moor yesterday when Burnley’s draw with Blackburn was twice halted by spectators running on the pitch, prompting an angry response from Rovers boss Mark Hughes.

“For three people to encroach on the field of play was careless and should be looked at,” he said.

“Sometimes it is difficult if people are determined but sometimes stewards and the police have to be more aware of the potential of that. But they were slow to react.

“God forbid, the guy who came on wanting to have a fight with somebody had a knife.”

The FA will also liaise with Merseyside and Lancashire Police over the trouble and have vowed to press for lifetime banning orders against any fan found guilty of an offence.

“The FA can confirm it is in communication with the host clubs and police forces after crowd incidents at the Everton-Manchester United and Burnley-Blackburn FA Cup ties,” said a statement on www.thefa.com

“The FA hopes that the individuals involved can be identified and dealt with under the law. The FA welcomes banning orders for anyone identified as engaging in violent or racist behaviour at football matches.”

With the televised ties for the sixth round set to be announced later this week, the FA and BBC may also come under pressure to abandon their policy of scheduling the main fixture on a Saturday evening.

Of even more concern will be the first semi-final, which has already been pencilled in for an evening kick-off on April 16.