Little more than a month after the Premiership season began, English football finds itself in a crisis. The high-profile contest between the league’s two most successful teams deteriorated into a gladiatorial slugfest that, by the end, had many shaking their heads in disgust and the onus is now on the FA to act decisively and quickly to ensure there is no repetition. The scenes will, no doubt, be played over and over again: Van Nistelrooy’s ‘fall’ on Vieira, the Arsenal captain’s retaliation, the resultant melee, the Dutchman missing the penalty and then being assaulted by four Arsenal players at full time. Finally, what we didn’t see in India, Ashley Cole lunging at teenager Ronaldo. The incidents brought to a head several issues raised over the past few days: play-acting, diving, cheating and gross indiscipline. And the abilities and powers of the referee in controlling them. Diving had been the issue leading up to the match; last weekend, Arsenal were awarded a penalty (later converted) against Portsmouth when Robert Pires was brought down in the box. However, replays showed he had kicked the defender and then fallen, as though fouled. It was only the latest instance of the Frenchman faking it, prompting widespread and withering criticism in the media — one tabloid called him the ‘‘greatest French diver since Jacques Cousteau’’. That had obviously upset Arsenal and yesterday their manager Arsene Wenger reacted to Vieira’s red card by saying that Van Nistelrooy had similarly cheated — while falling on Vieira when both contested a high ball, he’d left his foot in, provoking the reaction from the Frenchman. To an extent, Wenger was right; the blemish on the Dutchman’s growing reputation — and which distinguishes him from his great rival Henry — is a penchant for excessive drama, an ability to fall even when gently nudged. But there is an important point here: Vieira, though possibly provoked, did strike out — like Beckham v Argentina at the 1998 World Cup — and, even though no contact was made, ‘‘intent’’ was enough for the referee to produce red. As his team’s captain, on a yellow card and with 10 minutes left of a crucial match, this was reckless irresponsibility. There is a feeling that the referee, Steve Bennett, could have cooled things down by speaking to both players and getting on with the game. He didn’t, and the blame for this must fall on the FA for two reasons. First, Bennett was appointed for this match though he’s currently involved in another Arsenal-related controversy. He refereed the Community Shield match in August at which Sol Campbell lunged out at United’s Djemba-Djemba; no action was taken then because the referee said he didn’t see the incident. By putting him in charge of yesterday’s match, the FA had effectively set him up for the fall; he couldn’t risk — by being in full view of the incident this time — taking a lenient view of Vieira’s action. Second, the FA’s own rules for referees discourage application of the spirit of the law; the rules must instead be enforced to the last letter, giving Bennett no room for leverage. All this paled, though, in comparison with what followed the final whistle. Van Nistelrooy, who’d by then missed his third straight penalty, was surrounded and hit by Arsenal players Lauren, Keown, Cole and Parlour. To his credit, he preferred to run off the pitch rather than risk losing his own control. It’s those images that could return to haunt Arsenal in the days to come. The last time there was a similar free-for-all between the two clubs, back in 1990, all 21 players were involved. Arsenal were docked two points but went on to win the league. This time, with Chelsea and Unitedboth in overdrive, the league is far tighter. Even if points are docked, players will surely be disciplined; the FA today said it would react after the referee’s report. Already Sol Campbell awaits a hearing on his four-match ban and Vieira will get an automatic suspension for his red card. It is time, then for Wenger to get his team under control. They already hold two unwanted Premiership records: 52 red cards in the seven years of Wenger’s reign, of which Vieira alone accounts for eight. Just a couple of years ago, Manchester United were in the same boat and Roy Keane could out-do Vieira. Alex Ferguson took matters in hand and warned both team and captain. Yesterday, Keane was one of the coolest heads around. Former Arsenal striker Alan Smith was one of those involved in the 1990 match. Writing in The Daily Telegraph this morning, his strident criticism of his former club’s latest transgressions is tempered with the insight into how Wenger’s predecessor George Graham had handled it 13 years ago. Graham, he said, called the players together and told them that every time they went out to play, they must remember they were playing for their club, their country, their families, their wives. And they couldn’t let anyone down. Wenger is a great manager, the greater for what he’s done on a shoestring budget. He has in his care a team capable of producing the most brilliant football seen in the Premiership and, in Henry and Vieira, two players any manager anywhere in the world would die for. Arsenal have the character, the ability and the desire to win the Premiership. In a season where there appears little to separate Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United, it would be a shame if the Premiership was won and lost through docked points and suspended players.
