Source: Team_Talk
Vieira set to escape suspension
Patrick Vieira is unlikely to be banned for the start of the season following his sending off against Inter Milan, the FA have confirmed.[LNB] Vieira was shown a red card midway through the first half of the friendly in Baltimore when referee Baldomero Toledo adjudged the French midfielder to have elbowed Inter defender Marco Materazzi.[LNB]Reports have suggested the dismissal could see Vieira banned for the start of the new season, but a spokesman for the FA said: "If a player gets a red card in a friendly he gets a ban for his next friendly, not for competitive matches.[LNB]"If it is overseas, it is dependent on it being reported to us by the host FA.[LNB]"In general terms, we retain the right to charge players in the most serious of misconduct cases and make sanctions applicable to competitive first-team fixtures if it is felt necessary."[LNB]The spokesman indicated the incident involving Vieira was not viewed as being such a case.[LNB]Rafael Benitez's Inter side ran out comfortable 3-0 winners after Vieira departed the field, with Victor Obinna opening the scoring via a deflection off Micah Richards, an own goal from Joleon Lescott doubling the Nerazzurri's lead and Cristiano Biraghi sealing matters.[LNB]City assistant manager Brian Kidd felt the decision to send Vieira off was harsh.[LNB]"Patrick has gone for the ball," Kidd said. [LNB]"He genuinely didn't see the player. There was no intent there. Hopefully people will realise that it wasn't a genuine foul."
