Soccer-FA tackle Wenger over lying accusations

LONDON, Mar 1 (Reuters) Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will be asked to explain his accusations that a linesman lied in his account of a mass brawl at the League Cup final, the Football Association said today.

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.

The FA rejected the Frenchman's allegations on Thursday and added that the linesman's report contained no mention of a punch being thrown.

''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.

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.'' REUTERS PDS BD1939