FA seek Tigers response
The Football Association have written to Hull City asking for their version of events in the Fabregas spitting row.
Hull boss Phil Brown claims to have witnessed Fabregas - who categorically denies the allegations - spitting at Tigers assistant manager Brian Horton in the tunnel after his side were controversially beaten 2-1 by a late goal from William Gallas, which appeared offside.
Neither referee Mike Riley nor any of the other match officials mentioned anything of such an incident in their report to Soho Square.
The League Managers Association confirmed this afternoon that they had been contacted by Horton, adding: "As the incidents fall firmly within the jurisdiction of the Football Association, who are making their investigations in the prescribed manner, neither the LMA nor Brian Horton will be making any further comment at this time".
Brown, meanwhile, remains unrepentant in the ferocity of his criticism of Fabregas.
Speaking to BBC Radio Five Live, the Hull manager said: "The pictures in the national papers verify the aggression he was showing towards players and staff after the game.
"I could go on, but I am not one for crying over spilt milk.
"I then witnessed him going down the tunnel and turning around and spitting at my assistant manager's feet.
"Whichever way you want to look at it, he addressed that spitting incident at my assistant manager, who has managed probably 1200 games in his career. Disgraceful act.
"I am not going to report it, I am not going tittle-tattling to the FA - if they want to investigate that is their decision, and if Brian Horton wants to take it further he will get the full support of Hull City."
Even though Fabregas - who is on the verge of a comeback from three months out with a knee injury - was not in the Arsenal playing squad last night and only came onto the pitch to celebrate at full-time, the FA still maintain disciplinary jurisdiction.
However, because the alleged incident was not during normal game time, it would not fall under the 'fast-track' system, and so any investigation would seek submissions from all parties involved, as well as any potential television evidence - although if any confrontation occurred in the tunnel, their is unlikely to be any footage.
Fabregas, however, refutes all of the allegations.
"I was on the pitch at the end of the game celebrating with my team-mates, but I promise I did not do anything wrong," he said.
"It was not until half an hour after the game that I heard what Hull were saying about me and it is not something that is easy to accept.
"I understand Hull are angry and frustrated about going out of the FA Cup.
"But I don't know why they are saying these things about me because it did not happen. That is the truth.
"I don't even know who the assistant manager of Hull is or what he looks like.
"I am told Hull will be making an official complaint to the FA about me.
"Well, I am perfectly relaxed about that. I have nothing to hide."
Aside from the post-match row, Brown was upset about Gunners boss Arsene Wenger attempting to get Hull players booked for time-wasting.
The visitors - who took the lead through Nick Barmby in the 13th minute before Robin van Persie levelled in the second half - were denied a replay and another chance to secure a Wembley semi-final date with Chelsea when Gallas headed in an equaliser, despite looking offside.
Brown felt Riley "succumbed to local pressure" in the second half after his players were jeered by the home crowd.
Those comments could land the Hull manager in hot water with the FA, after implications his team had been cheated.
There is clearly little love lost between the two sides, Hull having recorded a shock victory in their league meeting at the Emirates back in September.
Van Persie captained the Gunners last night, and chalked up his 16th goal of the season.
However, the Dutchman was left less than impressed by what he saw as Hull's negative tactics.
"It was very frustrating. I felt like they stole almost 10 minutes, and this is not football," Van Persie said.
"I can understand that you wait a little bit longer when you have a throw-in, a little bit longer when you have a free-kick - but not every single time.
"60,000 people come to see a football match, not to just sit there waiting.
"I was quite gutted about it and told the referee a few times because when you play football, especially on an occasion like this, you should try at least."
The Football Association have written to Hull City asking for their version of events in the Fabregas spitting row.
Hull boss Phil Brown claims to have witnessed Fabregas - who categorically denies the allegations - spitting at Tigers assistant manager Brian Horton in the tunnel after his side were controversially beaten 2-1 by a late goal from William Gallas, which appeared offside.
Neither referee Mike Riley nor any of the other match officials mentioned anything of such an incident in their report to Soho Square.
The League Managers Association confirmed this afternoon that they had been contacted by Horton, adding: "As the incidents fall firmly within the jurisdiction of the Football Association, who are making their investigations in the prescribed manner, neither the LMA nor Brian Horton will be making any further comment at this time".
Brown, meanwhile, remains unrepentant in the ferocity of his criticism of Fabregas.
Speaking to BBC Radio Five Live, the Hull manager said: "The pictures in the national papers verify the aggression he was showing towards players and staff after the game.
"I could go on, but I am not one for crying over spilt milk.
"I then witnessed him going down the tunnel and turning around and spitting at my assistant manager's feet.
"Whichever way you want to look at it, he addressed that spitting incident at my assistant manager, who has managed probably 1200 games in his career. Disgraceful act.
"I am not going to report it, I am not going tittle-tattling to the FA - if they want to investigate that is their decision, and if Brian Horton wants to take it further he will get the full support of Hull City."
Even though Fabregas - who is on the verge of a comeback from three months out with a knee injury - was not in the Arsenal playing squad last night and only came onto the pitch to celebrate at full-time, the FA still maintain disciplinary jurisdiction.
However, because the alleged incident was not during normal game time, it would not fall under the 'fast-track' system, and so any investigation would seek submissions from all parties involved, as well as any potential television evidence - although if any confrontation occurred in the tunnel, their is unlikely to be any footage.
Fabregas, however, refutes all of the allegations.
"I was on the pitch at the end of the game celebrating with my team-mates, but I promise I did not do anything wrong," he said.
"It was not until half an hour after the game that I heard what Hull were saying about me and it is not something that is easy to accept.
"I understand Hull are angry and frustrated about going out of the FA Cup.
"But I don't know why they are saying these things about me because it did not happen. That is the truth.
"I don't even know who the assistant manager of Hull is or what he looks like.
"I am told Hull will be making an official complaint to the FA about me.
"Well, I am perfectly relaxed about that. I have nothing to hide."
Aside from the post-match row, Brown was upset about Gunners boss Arsene Wenger attempting to get Hull players booked for time-wasting.
The visitors - who took the lead through Nick Barmby in the 13th minute before Robin van Persie levelled in the second half - were denied a replay and another chance to secure a Wembley semi-final date with Chelsea when Gallas headed in an equaliser, despite looking offside.
Brown felt Riley "succumbed to local pressure" in the second half after his players were jeered by the home crowd.
Those comments could land the Hull manager in hot water with the FA, after implications his team had been cheated.
There is clearly little love lost between the two sides, Hull having recorded a shock victory in their league meeting at the Emirates back in September.
Van Persie captained the Gunners last night, and chalked up his 16th goal of the season.
However, the Dutchman was left less than impressed by what he saw as Hull's negative tactics.
"It was very frustrating. I felt like they stole almost 10 minutes, and this is not football," Van Persie said.
"I can understand that you wait a little bit longer when you have a throw-in, a little bit longer when you have a free-kick - but not every single time.
"60,000 people come to see a football match, not to just sit there waiting.
"I was quite gutted about it and told the referee a few times because when you play football, especially on an occasion like this, you should try at least."
Arsenal claimed the last Semi-Final spot at Wembley on Tuesday night when they eventually overcame a brave Hull City side courtesy of two late goals at the Emirates Stadium.It did look as though it was going to be City’s night, as they stoutly defended their first half lead for most of the second period before strikes from Gunners skipper Robin Van Persie and William Gallas in the final 15 minutes undid their hard work.Tigers boss Phil Brown couldn’t really have too many complaints at the result though, as he saw the home side dominate the possession and chances after Nick Barmby had given his team the lead in the early stages.It seemed as though Arsenal just weren’t going to score at one stage though as effort after effort of theirs was either bravely blocked, saved or narrowly off target.Arsene Wenger’s men never gave up and they will now face London rivals Chelsea at Wembley next month for the prize of a place in The FA Cup Final.They certainly didn’t start as they finished though and it was no real surprise when Hull took the lead after 13 minutes. Andy Dawson played a high ball from the left towards the area for Barmby and with no other options available, the experienced midfielder executed a first time volley with his left foot, which took a deflection off Johan Djourou and looped over Lukasz Fabianski and into the goal.City then came agonisingly close to getting a second goal in the 24th minute and it could have been a different story altogether. City were awarded what seemed a harsh free-kick against Gallas for his challenge on Manucho and when it was curled goalwards by Geovanni, his effort was matched by a magnificent save from Fabianski who tipped the Brazilian’s shot over the bar.From the resulting corner kick, City had the ball in the net again when Dawson drove a low ball into the area. It somehow found its way through a crowd of players to Barmby, who netted from close range, but an offside flag saw that effort ruled out and in the process seemed to inject some life into the Emirates crowd.Arsenal responded and Andrey Arshavin was denied a goal when he cut inside from the left to shoot right-footed, only for Anthony Gardner to stab the ball clear and narrowly wide of his own goal at the expense of a corner.Again it was City who came closest to getting the next goal though and Kamil Zayatte should have made it two when he rose highest to meet Peter Halmosi’s free kick from the right, but the defender nodded the ball just over the bar and onto the roof of the net ten minutes before the break.Arsenal finished the first half strongly and began to find some urgency in their attacks, with Carlos Vela’s cross from the left agonisingly evading Van Persie and Theo Walcott in front of goal.Arshavin then saw another effort superbly blocked in the area by Sam Ricketts after a run and cross from Walcott on the right.With injury time underway, the Russian came even closer when his ferocious volley from a deflected Kieran Gibbs cross flashed across goal and narrowly wide of the post, allowing Hull to leave the pitch at half time with their lead in tact.The hosts continued where they left off from the first whistle of the second half, with Van Persie’s pacy free-kick from the right flying across goal and eventually wide of the post when all it needed was a touch home.Arshavin’s corner then picked out Abou Diaby in the area, but after climbing to meet the cross with his head he could only guide it wide of the target.The pressure continued and when another Arshavin corner was flicked on by Van Persie, Alex Song’s shot on the turn went just wide of the post.Wenger reacted by sacrificing Song and Vela for Niklas Bendtner and Samir Nasri just after the hour mark in a bid to get themselves level and it seemed to give the Gunners an extra edge.With just over 20 minutes remaining, Van Persie came even closer when his quickly taken free kick was pushed around the post by Boaz Myhill who was almost caught out by the Dutchman’s sharp thinking.Van Persie then saw a header hit the bar soon after, when he rose to meet yet another Arshavin corner but the equaliser finally arrived with just under 15 minutes left on the clock. Bendtner did well to chase down a lost cause in the area and when his cross-shot picked out Arshavin at the far post, he calmly slid a pass back into the centre for Van Persie and he made no mistake to smash his team back into the game.However, almost as soon as they were level they could have been back behind, when Geovanni latched onto a ball in the area before shooting narrowly wide and into the side netting.Arsenal still looked the most likely winners though and when Myhill dropped a cross in his area, Bendtner saw his snap shot blocked behind for another corner.Gibbs then got in on the act, when Arshavin threaded a pass through Zayatte’s legs for the youngster but his low left-footer in the area was straight at Myhill who made a comfortable save.Hull just couldn’t withstand the pressure though and when Myhill failed to claim a Van Persie free-kick into the area, the ball looped up nicely for Gallas who nodded home into an empty goal although Hull looked to have a case in their claims for offside against the Frenchman.Arsenal had the ball in the net again minutes later, when Arshavin and Van Persie traded passes in the area but the striker was judged to be offside and the effort was ruled out.There were a few gasps around the stadium with an extra five minutes of added time, but Arsenal never looked like letting their lead slip and they will now be looking forward to a trip across the capital on April 18.The TeamsArsenal21 Lukasz Fabianski, 2 Abou Diaby, 3 Bacary Sagna, 10 William Gallas, 11 Robin Van Persie (c), 12 Carlos Vela (8 Samir Nasri, 65) 14 Theo Walcott (27 Emmanuel Eboue, 82), 17 Alex Song (26 Niklas Bendtner, 65) 20 Johan Djourou, 23 Andrey Arshavin, 40 Kieran Gibbs.Substitutes not used5 Kolo Toure, 15 Denilson, 18 Mikael Silvestre, 24 Vito Mannone.Hull City1 Boaz Myhill, 3 Andy Dawson, 4 Ian Ashbee (c) (11 Bryan Hughes, 46), 7 Craig Fagan, 8 Nick Barmby (13 Ryan France, 76) 10 Geovanni, 16 Peter Halmosi (15 Bernard Mendy, 67), 21 Sam Ricketts, 24 Kamil Zayatte, 28 Manucho, 30 Anthony Gardner.Substitutes not used12 Matt Duke, 14 Richard Garcia, 18 Caleb Folan, 27 Nicky Featherstone
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