Barthez escapes further punishment

Manchester United goalkeeper Fabien Barthez will not face any disciplinary action from the Football Association for his weekend clash with Leeds defender Ian Harte.

The incident led to an angry exchange of views between rival managers Sir Alex Ferguson and David O'Leary following the draw at Elland Road.

However, referee Graham Barber has made it clear to the FA that he saw the incident in awarding a penalty and booking the Frenchman for felling Harte.

That means the matter is now closed and, even if some observers believe Barthez should have been sent off for kicking out at Harte, the FA's video advisory panel do not become involved if a referee has witnessed an incident.

FA spokesman Adrian Bevington said: "The referee dealt with the incident in terms of the penalty decision and in issuing a caution to Fabien Barthez for foul play."

Although several United players contested the penalty decision with Barber, the referee is not planning to report them for intimidation and no action will be taken by the FA in that respect either.

United defender Gary Neville should, meanwhile, find out his fate later this week after being charged with abusing a referee's assistant following United's FA Cup defeat by West Ham in January.

Neville is expecting only a warning as he believes his "is a minor case and not one of violent conduct", but if the case against him is proved he could still be hit with a suspension.

As for the fall-out from the 1-1 draw at Elland Road, Ferguson accused Harte of being a well-known diver and added that diving was "a European thing that has crept into English football".

Referees Association president Peter Willis firmly rejected another assertion by Ferguson, that officials took players' diving reputations into account in the split-second before making decisions on issues such as penalties.

Willis said: "That doesn't happen. Afterwards you might realise who the player was but at the time you simply do not have the time to think about that. Matches are too intense."

However, as for the spread of diving Willis added: "There is too much of that. It is making the job of referees almost impossible at times.

"It is very difficult when professional players go to ground. The situation is getting slightly better and referees are alert to what is going on but it is still very sad as it is not an honest act.

"The issue needs to be addressed by everyone, including the Professional Footballers' Association as it is a case of member against member."