Wenger: FA gave Vieira fair hearing

Steve Stammers13 April 2012

Arsene Wenger said today Arsenal will not appeal against the punishment handed out to Patrick Vieira by the Football Association.

The midfielder was given a one-match ban and fined £10,000 after he was found guilty of misconduct following a clash with Leeds United's Olivier Dacourt during Arsenal's 1-0 defeat at Elland Road before Christmas.

Referee Dermot Gallagher did not book Vieira but the player was cited by the FA video panel and his case was heard yesterday.

Because Vieira accepted the punishment the ban comes into immediate effect and he misses tomorrow's match at home to Ipswich.

Arsenal manager Wenger said: "We have to take the sentence of the one-match ban and he will be out of the game against Ipswich.

"I spoke to Patrick and he assured me he had been given a fair hearing. That is all you ask for and that is what Patrick received."

Privately, Arsenal feared the disciplinary action could have been a lot tougher.

Vieira has been sent off six times since he moved to Highbury from AC Milan in 1996.

And two of the dismissals came in the first two matches of this season at Sunderland and at home to Liverpool.

He faced the prospect of a three- or even four-match suspension and that would have ruled him out of the FA Cup fifth-round tie against Chelsea and the Premiership clash away to Manchester United a week later. Now he is free to play in both.

Since he was sent off against Liverpool, Vieira has been booked just once in more than 20 matches - at Coventry last Saturday - and Wenger feels this helped his case.

"You never know what will happen in these cases," said Wenger. "I think they saw it was an unlucky reaction and he has been out of any trouble with referees until the game at Coventry. We have accepted the decision and now we have to get on with it."

With Vieira missing against Ipswich, Wenger is likely to draft in Gilles Grimandi to play alongside Ray Parlour in midfield.

However, Edu and Freddie Ljungberg, who have both been sidelined by calf injuries, are also in contention having played in a reserve match against Southampton in midweek.

Defender Silvinho will be out for another week with a calf injury and Martin Keown is not yet fit after a knee problem but Thierry Henry is available after a thigh injury.

Wenger added: "We are into a crucial period what with the Champions League resuming next week (away to Olympique Lyonnais) and the FA Cup next Sunday.

"But first is Ipswich. It will be a very big game for us. We have to put all our energies into getting the three points."

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