Babayaro cleared of violent conduct

Chelsea defender Celestine Babayaro has been cleared by a Football Association disciplinary hearing after being charged with violent conduct on the recommendation of the FA's video advisory panel.

Babayaro was accused of stamping on Fredrik Ljungberg's ankle during the tempestuous FA Cup fifth round tie between Chelsea and Arsenal at Highbury on February 18.

However, the case against him was found to be "not proven" after the FA accepted his defence that the incident had been accidental.

The case represents another occasion in which a recommendation of the video advisory panel, which was set up by the FA last summer to review controversial incidents missed by match officials, has not led to a guilty verdict.

Babayaro will nevertheless be relieved to have avoided what could otherwise have been a three-game ban just as Chelsea are attempting to complete their qualification for Europe next season.

The Nigerian international requested a personal hearing after the panel had reviewed the incident, in which slow-motion TV replays appeared to show him treading on Ljungberg's ankle during Chelsea's 3-1 defeat.

FA head of communications Paul Newman said: "The commission considered that the conduct may not have been deliberate and the player is entitled to the benefit of the doubt.

"Celestine Babayaro gave evidence himself that it was an accidental incident."

Another incident in the game, in which Babayaro appeared to flick out a boot - a la David Beckham at France '98 - at Dennis Bergkamp, thereby tripping him up, was also reviewed by the panel but did not lead to a charge.

Arsenal and Chelsea have already been warned as to their future conduct by the FA following a first-half scuffle, which involved a dozen players and led to three yellow cards being shown by referee Graham Barber.