LONDON (Reuters) - French international striker Thierry Henry has been charged with improper conduct following Arsenal's controversial league match against Newcastle United on December 18.

The Football Association announced the charge on Friday, giving Henry 14 days to respond.

"The charge is very open-ended," an FA spokesman said.

"It is not like a violent conduct charge where there is a set penalty but the usual punishment for a charge like this is a one match ban. The disciplinary committee will take into account the player's usual conduct on the pitch."

The Highbury match included a red card for each side and a decisive late penalty for Newcastle, who won 3-1 to go top of the league.

At the end of the game Henry charged towards referee Graham Poll, shouting and gesticulating and had to be restrained by team mates and members of the Arsenal bench. Poll was escorted off the pitch by two policemen.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has said he would defend Henry.

"We will defend him as vigorously as we have done for everybody at this club," he said days after the incident.

"I have seen his (Poll's) report and I think he has called it 'aggressive attitude'," said Wenger.

"But Henry did not touch the referee or insult him and we do not expect him to be charged."

"Players insult referees every week and yet nothing happens to them. Henry is a winner. He gets kicked 99 percent of the time on the pitch and never reacts. I have spoken to him about it and he knows he over-reacted. In an ideal world, he would not have reacted at all but, overall, his behaviour is very fair."

-- Anonymous, January 11, 2002

Answers

he never touched the referee, mmmmmm, wasn't for the want of trying

-- Anonymous, January 11, 2002

Players insult referees every week and yet nothing happens to them

Oh well, that's alright then Arsene. So it's OK to parade in front of a world-wide television audience and show total disrespect for the officials is it? No contact was made, and according to you, no insults were made either. But gobbing off in such a violent manner to warrant your own team mates and backroom staff to control a player is OK. Well let's all do it then eh? And then let's just see where it gets us. Perhaps you can tell me what TH was hoping to achieve with his outburst? Chalking off the penalty? Bringing Parlour back on the pitch (yet another @rse sent off under your reign)? A rematch? Or simply to wish Graham Poll a Merry Christmas? And you didn't expect him to be charged? Never heard of "ungentlemanly conduct"? Oh sorry, I forget, you're French. Tosseur!

-- Anonymous, January 11, 2002

"Players insult referees every week and yet nothing happens to them....."

I think this statement from a senior manager in the game says it all, actually. Tosser!

As for Henry's action or lack thereof, I suspect being physically restrained by several large players may have contributed to the outcome - although to be honest Henry's a big girl's blouse anyway, and I'd back Graham "Tub 'o Lard" Poll if it came to a physical confrontation.

-- Anonymous, January 11, 2002

if he gets away with this then Wenger can then start and quote 'players get away with this all the time so I'm encourage my players to question the referee after the game' then 'players always question referees I don't see why my players can't take this further and actually punch them in the face, no one has ever actually been found guilty of punching a referee so why should my players be punished for it' ......

-- Anonymous, January 11, 2002

Dear Uncle FA

I have to say I think Henry should have the book thrown at him for this, truly disgraceful behaviour and Poll, in other circumstances (ie not inciting the crowd) should have red carded him after the whistle (which I believe is possible?). If his behaviour is not considered threatening, then I'd like to explain that to a steward when he kicks you out the stadium for simular behaviour, Wenger is being a real W#anker over this and bringing the game into disrepute.

Yours, Disgruntled NSW

-- Anonymous, January 11, 2002

Is he going to get a ban for this?

A fine is useless for someone on that much money, all it will do is delay him buying a swimming pool for a week or two, nothing more.

-- Anonymous, January 12, 2002

Actually I think its really great to see Wenger behaving like this. To me it indicates that he is just not cool enough. Managers have to remain balanced, which is very difficult for them, and I had thought that Wenger's real strength was that he was very balanced. Its seems not. Perhaps this season's league joust, with multiple teams still in with a chance, will be strongly influenced by who can keep their cool and make sound decisions.

-- Anonymous, January 12, 2002