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Cesc Fabregas will face no FA action over Moyes claims

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Arsenal can sustain title challenge - Wenger

The Football Association will take no action against Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas over claims made following his side's match with Everton on Tuesday.

After losing 2-1 at the Emirates, Everton manager David Moyes said Fabregas made comments to referee Lee Mason that warranted a sending off.

The FA revealed the official did not mention any confrontation involving Fabregas in his post-match report.

Fabregas insisted he did not overstep the mark.

Although the Spaniard admitted in a statement on the club website that he did speak to Mason in the tunnel during the interval, he is adamant he did not cross the line of respect.

He said: "There has been much talk about me saying things to the officials at half-time on Tuesday night. All I can say is that I have respect for all match officials. Their job is a very difficult one and their decisions are final.

"Yes, I was upset at half-time. So too were about 60,000 Arsenal supporters in the stadium. We were one-nil down against a very good Everton side to a goal which we felt was offside.

"Of course I am going to be upset. Players from both sides were saying things as we came off the pitch, and this always happens in football.

"I'm passionate about this club and like all the players want to win every single match, so many things are said in the heat of the moment.

"Clearly the officials feel that nothing serious happened, as I understand the referee has not included anything in his match report."

Tempers were running high after Louis Saha opened the scoring in the 24th minute from a position which both managers later said was clearly offside.

However, for Mason there was to be more incident in the tunnel at half-time.

Moyes stopped short of explaining what he had allegedly heard Fabregas telling the official, but the Scot felt the alleged comments had a bearing on the result of the game.

'Terrible' Fabregas comments shock Moyes

"I think it [not sending off Fabregas] changed the flow of the game," Moyes said. "I think it was offside, the wrong decision, but it was not Everton who made the decision.

"I also thought there were some really bad tackles.

"But Fabregas's comments to the officials when he was coming down the tunnel warranted a sending off.

"I am not going to repeat what they were. They were disappointing comments from someone who is such a talented footballer.

"I won't go into what they were, but they were deserving of a sending off, 100%. If you had said it on the pitch, you should have been off like that, so what is the difference when you are coming down the tunnel?"

However, a defiant Wenger explained: "I was next to Fabregas at half-time and I can't see why David Moyes is furious with him.

"Fabregas didn't speak to the referee at half-time, I did."

Wenger was delighted with the spirit shown by his title-chasing side in getting back into the game and suggested their mental fortitude could hold the key to a challenge for the championship.

"We are ready for the fight [for the title] and we have shown that again," Wenger stated.

"Everton played very well, had a great first half and started sharper than us. We had to rely on our exceptional spirit, attitude and belief.

"You could see how strong and determined this team is.

"Our first touches were not as good, our passing was not as quick but on days like this we have to rely on our mental qualities.

"There is a 'never give up' attitude in the team and you could see that tonight."

Meanwhile, Moyes was left to rue three dropped points which left his side in the bottom half of the Premier League table.

"The players played really well. I don't think we deserved the defeat," Moyes reflected.

"It's a results business we are in and we need to get some results but I don't think anyone would go away from this game thinking Everton didn't deserve to get a result."



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see also
Arsenal 2-1 Everton
01 Feb 11 |  Premier League


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