Soccer: Vieira handed one-match ban
Patrick Vieira was today handed a one-match ban and fined £10,000 by a Football Association disciplinary panel.
The FA referred two separate incidents involving the Arsenal midfielder during the bad-tempered Premiership clash with Leeds in November to their video panel.
The panel found Vieira guilty of kicking fellow Frenchman Olivier Dacourt but cleared him of headbutting Norwegian midfielder Eirik Bakke.
Vieira was not among seven Arsenal players booked during the game by referee Dermot Gallacher.
But re-examination of television’s live coverage compelled the FA to take action over Vieira’s clashes with Dacourt and Bakke.
TV pictures showed Vieira recklessly flicking a leg in the air from a prone position after a tumble with Dacourt who has since offered the opinion that Vieira’s actions were not malicious and then going head-to-head with Bakke in an off-the-ball incident.
FA head of communications Paul Newman said: ‘‘At an FA disciplinary hearing today the Arsenal player Patrick Vieira faced two charges of misconduct during the Leeds v Arsenal Premier League fixture on November 26 last year.
‘‘The first charge, that he headbutted Eirik Bakke, was dismissed. The panel decided that the second charge, of kicking Olivier Dacourt, was proved.
‘‘The commission ruled that Patrick Vieira should be suspended for one match with immediate effect and be fined £10,000. He will also have to pay the costs of the hearing.
‘‘In making their finding the panel noted Patrick Vieira’s improved disciplinary record.’’
Vieira will miss Saturday’s home game with Ipswich as a result of this afternoon’s judgement.
