Premiership: Dacourt to face probe over Vieira joke
Olivier Dacourt is ready to face the FA and explain his "joke" comments concerning Arsenal's Patrick Vieira.
The Leeds midfielder said he took the decision to write to the FA to help Vieira escape a lengthy ban.
Vieira escaped with a one-match ban and £10,000 fine after the clash with Dacourt and a head-butt on Eirik Bakke in the clash at Elland Road.
But an FA spokesman confirmed they would be asking Dacourt to explain his story.
Dacourt said: "I will happily help the FA with any enquiry because I have no problem with the interview on French television.
"If the FA look at a video tape they will see and hear that I was joking. It was agreed before the programme began that I would talk about Patrick Vieira. Everyone knows he is my close friend.
"When they asked me about the Arsenal game I joked that I had saved Patrick from a six-match ban and a big fine. I also joked about how he telephoned me asking for a letter from me to the FA and I said 'maybe I will, maybe I won't.'
"I also joked that Patrick should send me the cheque for his lost wages and any fine. I am sorry that a joke on French television has been taken so literally in England. But I don't want my reputation tarnishing by this."
