Old Trafford tunnel storm

Patrick Vieira had to be held back from confronting Ruud van Nistelrooy in the tunnel at Old Trafford yesterday as the ill-feeling from his red-card in Arsenal's stormy Premiership encounter with Manchester United continued in an ugly slanging match.

The Arsenal captain was sent off in the goalless draw following a clash with Van Nistelrooy and an incensed Vieira believed the Dutchman acted as though he had been caught when Vieira kicked out to earn a second yellow card. Replays showed there had been no contact.

Vieira waited to talk to the Dutchman in the Old Trafford tunnel at the end of the match but van Nistelrooy hurried to the dressing room.

Some 25 minutes later, Vieira was talking to Eric Djemba-Djemba and Fabien Barthez of United and team-mates Robert Pires when van Nistelrooy emerged and agreed to speak to him.

Vieira said: "I have nothing to say to you," and continued talking to the other trio.

Van Nistelrooy then called out: "You have no class" a comment which enraged Vieira.

An eye witness said: "Patrick was really angry when van Nistelrooy said that.

"He went towards him and said he would really make contact this time and van Nistelrooy would know what it is like to be hurt. But he was held back."

The fall-out from the game will be sure to prompt a Football Association inquiry.

Earlier, Van Nistelrooy has been the target of ferocious verbal abuse from the Arsenal players following the red card.

When van Nistelrooy missed a last-minute penalty awarded by Steve Bennett for a foul by Martin Keown on substitute Diego Forlan, he was surrounded by Arsenal players who taunted and jostled him.

Keown is likely to face a disciplinary charge after appearing to hit Van Nistelrooy on the back of the head as the Dutchman was surrounded by Ray Parlour, Ashley Cole and Lauren.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger criticised Van Nistelrooy for "a kind of cheating".

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson described the Arsenal players' behaviour as "beyond the pale" and called for the FA to investigate the scenes at the end of the game.

The FA will await the report of Bennett and the fourth official, Neale Barry before announcing what they will do but they could impose a massive fine or even deduct points from Wenger's team.

Bennett was a controversial choice. He was in charge during the stormy Community Shield match at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff last month, a game in which he sent off Arsenal's Francis Jeffers and which saw defender Sol Campbell retrospectively cited by the FA after video evidence showed him kicking out at Djemba-Djemba.

Campbell was later charged by the FA for violent conduct and he has asked for a personal hearing.