Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will be asked to explain his accusations that a linesman lied in his account of a mass brawl at Sunday's League Cup final, the Football Association said yesterday.
The move was expected after Wenger told the British media following Arsenal's FA Cup exit at Blackburn Rovers on Wednesday that a linesman had lied by saying Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor had punched Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard.
Adebayor was red-carded along with team-mate Kolo Toure and Chelsea's John Obi Mikel in the brawl which marred the closing stages of Chelsea's 2-1 victory in Cardiff on Sunday.
According to the FA, the linesman's report did not say Adebayor had punched Lampard, but said his attitude had been aggressive, that he had shoved into Chelsea defender Ricardo Carvalho and that he had aimed a punch at Lampard.
Adebayor, who had an appeal for wrongful dismissal rejected on Tuesday, was dismissed for violent conduct, the FA said.
"Questioning the integrity of a match official and accusing them of lying is a very serious claim to make as it questions the whole integrity of the game," an FA spokesman said.
"We also reject any accusations of bias or dishonesty within our disciplinary system. We will be asking Arsene Wenger to explain these comments."
The ruling body said Wenger had referred to its disciplinary procedures with the comment: "the whole system is not honest."
The FA's move came shortly after Lampard's agent Steven Kutner was quoted as telling BBC Sport: "I've spoken to Frank and he told me that he wasn't punched."
Wenger was quoted as saying after Arsenal's 1-0 FA Cup fifth round defeat at Blackburn: "I don't agree with the report of the linesman because, for me, he lies. Adebayor didn't punch anybody. So when the linesman says he punches someone, he lies.
"I would like you to ask Lampard if he was punched. And I want him to say the truth. If it is 'yes', we will accept it. But we have watched it on microscope and, if you can see Adebayor punching Lampard, I would like you to show me."
Adebayor missed the Blackburn game as he has begun an automatic three-match suspension for being red-carded. He risks further punishment after being charged with reacting aggressively and failing to leave the pitch immediately on Sunday.