Post by Salem6 on Oct 31, 2003 18:18:20 GMT
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson insists Arsenal will be "delighted" with the punishment they received from the Football Association after the Old Trafford brawl.
Ferguson claimed there were clear suspicions that a deal had been agreed between the FA and Arsenal and hinted that the Gunners had got off lightly.
But Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger said it was wrong to single his team out for criticism of their discipline, and insisted he was "proud of his players".
The Gunners were given a £175,000 fine and had four players banned for a total of nine matches at a disciplinary hearing on Thursday.
Ferguson, questioned about whether the punishment was fair, said: "I wouldn't agree with that, I think Arsenal will be delighted with the decision, that's without question.
THE PUNISHMENTS
Arsenal: £175,000 fine and warned over future conduct
Martin Keown: Three-match ban. £20,000 fine
Lauren: Four-match ban. £40,000 fine
Ray Parlour: One-match ban. £10,000 fine
Patrick Vieira: One-match ban. £20,000 fine
Ashley Cole: £10,000 fine
"I read they did a deal before they went in there and I think that was the suspicion right throughout the country that a deal was being done.
"It's disappointing to read that kind of thing."
Wenger refuted the charge that his team had disciplinary problems, although he accepted their behaviour during the melee at Old Trafford on 21 September was unacceptable.
"We have played 10 Premiership games of 90 minutes so far this season and, for five seconds, we didn't behave like we want to behave," he said.
"This reputation is not justified. You should judge people purely on what they have done. I could also say that we're top of the fair play league so far this season.
"If you look at all those red cards, some we deserve and some we don't deserve, but our opponents got 25% more yellow and red cards in those same games.
"Frankly, we always try to play football."
Wenger said Arsenal were still considering whether to appeal against the punishment imposed by the FA.
Lauren and Martin Keown were hit by four and three-game suspensions respectively for their part .
Ray Parlour and Patrick Vieira, dismissed during the game, must serve one-match bans.
GAMES THEY WILL MISS
Birmingham (a) 22 Nov: Lauren, Keown, Parlour, Vieira
Fulham (h) 30 Nov: Lauren, Keown
Wolves (h) (Carling Cup) 2 Dec: Lauren, Keown
Leicester (a) 6 Dec: Lauren
Ashley Cole was fined, and the club have been hit with a £175,000 penalty and warned about their future conduct for failing to control their players. All the suspensions start on 17 November.
But Wenger said that an appeal would inevitably protract the matter, and said everyone at the club wanted to put it behind them.
"This has been a distraction and if players are not concentrated on the game then it can be a big handicap," he said.
Wenger admitted that losing so many key players was a big blow for the Gunners.
"I will consider the suspensions like an injury and then we have to deal with it," he said.
"Bringing Moritz Volz back from loan at Fulham is an option, as is playing Justin Hoyte or Kolo Toure at right-back.
"But we can only really respond by playing football well and winning our games."
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Wot a fucking larf Slur Alex iz TWAT.
He's only pissed off coz FIFA (Ferguson Is Fucked Again) have warned him to keep his big red nose out of their business & not 2 push his luck over the Rio case or he'll regret it big time.
