Football: Durie cleared while Wright is charged by FA

GORDON DURIE and Ian Wright, strikers in opposing corners for Tottenham and Arsenal, Scotland and England, shared contrasting emotions last night. Durie celebrated after the Football Association upheld his appeal against a 'cheating' charge, while Wright was accused of hitting an opponent and ordered to appear before a disciplinary commission in the new year.

Wright's summons by the FA to answer a misconduct charge became inevitable the moment television caught, and replayed, him apparently lashing out at David Howells in the north London derby on Saturday.

The Durie case, however, was not so clear-cut. An FA appeals board overturned the original guilty verdict because, while it agreed contact had been made between him and the Coventry defender, Andy Pearce, in a clash at White Hart Lane on 18 August, crucially, it concluded that Durie had not feigned injury.

The three-match ban imposed on him at the hearing on 16 October has been set aside, as has an order to pay costs. Shaking with emotion, Durie spoke afterwards of his delight at clearing his reputation of the unwanted slur of becoming the first player to be officially a cheat.

'I'm very relieved that it's all over and now I just want to get on with playing football,' he said. 'I'd like to thank the club, the PFA and my family for all the help they've given me over the last few weeks.'

The Tottenham chief executive, Terry Venables, said the strain on his pounds 2m player had been 'huge' and he had coped with it 'with difficulty'.

'This clears his name completely and a huge weight has been lifted from his shoulders. He has suffered with it and I am delighted for him and the club.'

The three-man appeal board, comprising Ray Kiddell (Norfolk FA), Frank Patterson (Durham) and John Reames (Lincoln FC), watched video film of the incident following which the referee, Dermot Gallagher, booked Durie and reported him for ungentlemanly conduct.

It also heard from Gordon Taylor, the PFA chief executive, who spoke on the player's behalf and said it was a vital victory for the future of the game.

Otherwise, he said, it was a 'dangerous road' when referees were allowed to make judgements on the extent of injuries.

'If you accept that a collision occurred and contact been made, it's unfair for a referee to say how bad is the injury,' he said. 'Had the video evidence showed no contact, we would have been the first to say we couldn't condone what happened, but that wasn't the case. If the FA were looking to make a point, this was the wrong player and the wrong incident. Video evidence has been used to indict players and it's also important it's used to support players as well. In the end, justice has been done.'

Wright has 14 days in which to reply to his misconduct charge, but has been told he must attend the hearing. Normally, a player can choose whether he wants a personal hearing, but an FA spokesman said it was only right that he watched the same evidence as members of the commission.

He now faces the likelihood of a lengthy ban, which could have serious repercussions for his international career. The England manager, Graham Taylor, has continually stressed the importance for players to control their tempers, and it is believed concern over Wright in that regard is why he has been denied a regular place with England before this season.