Misconduct charge for spitting mad Vieira

The English FA have added to Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira's problems with a misconduct charge for improper behaviour.

Television pictures of Viera's reaction to his sending off in a 2-1 defeat at Arsenal yesterday showed the French international spitting at West Ham defender Neil Ruddock and being restrained three times from an aggressive confrontation with referee Mike Reed by team mates and Arsenal physio Gary Lewin.

The Metropolitan police are to charge the player with threatening behaviour after he is alleged to have thrown a punch in the tunnel as he left the pitch at a policeman.

Arsenal and the French international have 14 days to prepare the former Milan star's defence but he is facing a heavy fine and a long ban and possible criminal proceedings. He was also accused of attacking a policeman last year after a defeat at Sheffield Wednesday after a clash with Paolo Di Canio and he was sent off yesterday for a foul on the same Italian player in an incident included in the referee's report of the game to the FA which has triggered another disciplinary hearing for the confrontational Arsenal player.