PETER SCHMEICHEL could become the first footballer to face criminal charges for alleged racist abuse as his feud with Ian Wright burst back into life.
While everyone expected the Arsenal striker to be charged with misconduct by the FA for his behaviour at Highbury on Wednesday night, it was the Manchester United goalkeeper who finds himself in deeper trouble.
Wright's complaint that he subjected him to racial abuse during last November's Premiership clash at Old Trafford had not, as everyone believed, been quietly shelved.
Instead, the police have been carrying out an extensive investigation and papers have now been lodged with the Crown Prosecution Service (GPS).
There were no close witnesses to the alleged incident but several lip-readers claimed that television pictures showed the Danish international swearing at Wright and if the CPS decides that evidence is strong enough, Schmeichel will find himself in a unique soccer test case.
"There has been a long-running police investigation into the original incident at Old Trafford" said FA spokesman Steve Double. "As a result of police inquiries into the alleged racist remarks a report has been compiled and is currently being considered by the Crown Prosecution Service."
The FA, leading a campaign against racism among supporters, are to be applauded from pursuing this case to a conclusion when many believed it had been swept under the carpet.
It would be the third time United stars have found themselves in a criminal court Eric Cantona for assaulting a Palace fan with his famous kung-fu leap over the Selhurst fences two years ago, while Paul lace was acquitted for his part in the same incident.
. Top Belgium side Anderlecht have been accused of bribing a referee to help win a controversial 1984 UEFA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest. Jean Elst, an agent for several Belgian players, claims the club's former chairman Constant Vanden Stock instructed him to pay the Spanish referee a million francs ($30,000) to favour the Belgian club.
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/YVIRIOZQ35EWRPZXR27KGMO6YU.png)