Football: Judgement delayed on Highbury brawl

THE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION will await the referee Graham Poll's report before deciding whether to act against Arsenal and Manchester United players involved in an ugly spat at Highbury on Sunday.

Patrick Vieira triggered the flare-up when he appeared to headbutt United's Roy Keane as pressure mounted in another titanic battle between the clubs which the champions won 2-1 thanks to two Keane strikes. A fracas ensued, and Jaap Stam had to be restrained as he tried to get at Vieira - but Poll took no action. The Tring official decided a stern lecture was sufficient as tempers reached boiling point in the fierce atmosphere. Poll's account of the clash should arrive with the FA within a couple of days.

The Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, claimed he had missed the alleged clash of heads but may choose to discipline his French international after studying video evidence. Wenger said: "I will have to look at the tape and see what happened and then maybe decide what action to take."

United keeper's recovery, page 21