Arsenal and Chelsea have been charged with misconduct by the
English Football Association following an injury-time row in the
Carling Cup final which saw three players ejected.
The FA also rejected the two clubs' appeals for false dismissals
of players Emmanuel Adebayor and John Obi Mikel.
African trio Kolo Toure, Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal) and John
Obi Mikel (Chelsea) were all shown red after the mass brawl broke
out late in the Carling Cup final.
Toure, who did not make an appeal, will automatically serve a
three-match ban as well as his teammate Adebayor who had his appeal
rejected.
The Togolese forward could be hit with a further sanction as he
was charged for "reacting aggressively and failing to leave the
field of play immediately."
Nigerian John Obi Mikel will be out for four games as the
sending off is his second of the season.
Another African defender, Arsenal right-back Emmanuel Eboue, has
been also charged with violent conduct after striking Chelsea
defender Wayne Bridge even though the Ivorian was not cautioned
after the incident.
"Arsenal and Chelsea have been charged with misconduct for an
incident involving players and officials from both clubs towards
the end of the Carling Cup final on Sunday, February 25," a FA
statement read.
"Arsenal's Emmanuel Eboue has been charged with violent conduct
for striking Chelsea's Wayne Bridge. He has until 6 p.m. tomorrow
to respond, and the case will be heard by a disciplinary commission
on Thursday on the basis of documents and video evidence.
"Emmanuel Adebayor has been charged with reacting aggressively
and failing to leave the field of play immediately after being sent
off. He has until 6 p.m. tomorrow to respond to the charge and his
case will be heard by a disciplinary commission on Tuesday, March
6," the statement added.
(Xinhua News Agency via Agencies March 1, 2007)