Leeds midfielder Olivier Dacourt is ready to face the FA and
explain his "joke" comments concerning close friend Patrick Vieira.
In an interview with French television station Telefoot on Sunday, Dacourt revealed his defence of Vieira against an FA violent conduct charge earlier this season was done to help the Arsenal star escape a potential lengthy ban.
Vieira was involved in two separate incidents during Arsenal's stormy 1-0 defeat at Elland Road in November which immediately landed him in hot water with the FA's disciplinary committee.
Although seven Arsenal players were booked during the match, Vieira was not one of them, although he was later charged after the video advisory panel reviewed footage of the game in which he was caught apparently headbutting Eirik Bakke and kicking Dacourt in the throat.
Dacourt, however, quickly wrote to the FA claiming there was no malice in the challenge, evidence which almost certainly influenced the disciplinary committee as Vieira was only handed a one-match ban and stg£10,000 fine.
An FA spokesman confirmed they would be asking Dacourt to explain his story, one which the 26-year-old is only too willing to give.
Dacourt said: "I will happily help the FA with any enquiry because I have no problem with the interview on French television.
"If the FA look at a video tape they will see and hear that I was joking. It was agreed before the programme began that I would talk about Patrick Vieira. Everyone knows he is my close friend.
"When they asked me about the Arsenal game I joked that I had saved Patrick from a six-match ban and a big fine.
"I also joked about how he telephoned me asking for a letter from me to the FA and I said 'maybe I will, maybe I won't.'
"I also joked that Patrick should send me the cheque for his lost wages and any fine.
"I am sorry that a joke on French television has been taken so literally in England. But I don't want my reputation tarnishing by this."
PA