Dennis Bergkamp is considering a personal plea following the Football Association's decision to charge him with violent misconduct over what he insists was a minor incident.
Arsenal's Dutch striker fears a three-match ban which could include keeping him out of the clash with Manchester United at Old Trafford on December 7th and claims that "this case should be closed."
Television cameras caught Bergkamp placing a foot on the chest of grounded Blackburn Rovers' player Nils-Eric Johansson during Arsenal's 2-1 defeat at Highbury on October 26th.
The pair had clashed by the touchline and referee Graham Barber awarded a free-kick against Bergkamp, but has subsequently admitted he missed the alleged "stamping" on the Swedish defender which seemingly motivated the FA compliance office's investigation of television evidence . Johansson has since been reported as saying: "He didn't hurt me much but last season at Blackburn he elbowed me before he scored the winning goal and so perhaps he deserves a suspension."
But Bergkamp who has been staunchly defended by coach Arsene Wenger is baffled by the controversy surrounding the incident.
"The matter is still with the club but I find it is all a bit strange. For me the referee saw what happened, told me to calm down and it should be over with by now."
Bergkamp will certainly now be interested to see what action, if any, UEFA take against his fellow-countryman Mark van Bommel who stands accused by television evidence of spitting at Arsenal's Thierry Henry during Tuesday night's Champions League clash at Highbury.
The incident was not seen by Norwegian referee Tom Ovrebo in company with most of the 35,000 crowd who had just witnessed Arsenal's Ivory Coast defender Kolo Toure being sent off for a second yellow card offence.
Henry refused to discuss the situation, no doubt alarmed by several controversies he has recently been involved in, which include being the victim of racist abuse from PSV fans in the first meeting between the teams in September, for which the Eindhoven club were fined by UEFA.
But Bergkamp said: "Van Bommel is a passionate man who can easily become involved in incidents."
A UEFA spokesman confirmed today they have the option of reviewing the incident on video even if it is not mentioned in the referee's report or that of their designated observer.
