LONDON, Dec 23: Arsenal defender Martin Keown has been charged with misconduct by the English Football Association (FA) for an off-the-ball clash with Manchester United’s Ruud van Nistelrooy earlier this month.

“The FA can confirm that Martin Keown of Arsenal FC has today been charged with improper conduct for an incident involving Manchester United’s Ruud van Nistelrooy in the match at Old Trafford on December 7,” the FA said in a statement on Monday.

Keown has 14 days to respond to the FA, who did not state the nature of his punishment and were not available for comment.

The central defender appeared to slap the Dutch striker in the face during the first half of the match, which United won 2-0.

He apologised to manager Arsene Wenger for the incident, which referee Dermot Gallagher had not seen.—Reuters