Football: Newcastle, Arsenal charged by FA

LONDON: Newcastle United and Arsenal have been charged with failing to control their players after Saturday’s bad-tempered Premier League clash. Trouble flared late in the game as Arsenal’s Ivorian striker Gervinho was sent off following an altercation with Magpies combative midfielder Joey Barton. Arsenal midfielder Alex Song was also involved in an earlier incident with Barton, and has already been charged with violent conduct. “Newcastle United and Arsenal have been charged with failing to control their players,” said the Football Association in a statement. “Both clubs have been charged following a mass confrontation of players following an incident involving Arsenal’s Gervinho  who was also shown a red card.”



Published in The Express Tribune, August 17^th, 2011.