Sport

Lauren escapes FA action

Evening Standard Last updated at 00:00am on 26.04.05

Arsenal defender Lauren will not face any disciplinary action from the Football Association following his "accidental" clash with Tottenham's Erik Edman during the Gunners' 1-0 victory at Highbury.

The FA reviewed video replays of the second-half incident, in which Lauren's elbow made contact first with the back of Edman's shoulder and then with his neck.

However, the governing body have accepted there was no intent to cause injury and the Arsenal right-back will therefore not face a disciplinary hearing.

Lauren had already made it clear he did not mean to injure the Tottenham full-back, who collapsed to the ground and received treatment after the incident.

"It was just a normal challenge. Both players went for the same ball and it was a fair challenge, the kind that happens in every game," Lauren told the Evening Standard.

"It is nothing more than that, there was nothing sinister in it. We both went for the same ball and tried to push each other. It was accidental. There was nothing intentional from me."

Blackburn defender Andy Todd made a similar defence after clashing with Robin van Persie during the FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal just 10 days earlier.
However, while Todd was found not guilty of misconduct, he had to go through an official hearing to prove his innocence and escape any punishment.

Lauren has nevertheless been cleared to take part in the FA Cup final against Manchester United, as well as the remaining four games in Arsenal's league campaign.