Police prepare Friday report on Vieira

The Metropolitan Police will announce on Friday if Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira will face a criminal charge for his confrontation with a police officer in the tunnel at Upton Park after being sent off in a 2-1 defeat on Sunday at West Ham.

The French star is already facing a misconduct charge for his reaction to a red card late in the game. He had to be restrained from bearing down on match referee Mike Reed by team mates and the club physio Gary Lewin. He also spat at West Ham defender Neil Ruddock which has also contributed to his charge of misconduct. It now seems less likely that a threatening behaviour charge from the police will add to the French international's misery.

He apologised yesterday for his wild reaction to the dismissal for a foul on Paolo Di Canio which earned a second yellow card but the English FA are to press on with a charge that could see him receive a lengthy ban. Each red card gets an automatic one game ban and a misconduct charge can see a player barred for four or five matches and that is before the FA take into account to disturbance in the tunnel and the police report which is being complied for delivery on Friday.