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Arsenal players involved in scuffle

October 01, 2004 17:40 IST
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Two Arsenal players were involved in a scuffle on the team bus after drawing 1-1 against Rosenborg Trondheim in the Champions League, Norwegian police said on Friday.

The pair -- captain Patrick Vieira and defender Lauren according to media reports -- had to be separated by team mates outside the Lerkendal stadium in Trondheim, Oslo after Wednesday's Group E match.

"There was scuffling and loud shouting. A security guard went on to the bus to calm things down," Hallgeir Stokken, the stadium police commander, told Reuters.

"Two other Arsenal players separated them. They were quite aggressive."

He said that by the time police entered the bus a few minutes later the situation had been defused, with the two players told to sit apart.

One report said that Arsenal's Edu, who lost possession just before Rosenborg's Roar Strand scored the second-half equaliser, was one of the peacemakers.

The incident reportedly began as four or five Arsenal players, clearly disappointed by the match result, were getting on to the bus to take them back to the airport, while some of their team mates were still giving interviews.

"The area was sealed off but there were police, security guards, fans and press everywhere," Stokken added.

He said there were about 800 Arsenal supporters at the game.

"When the British embassy called me, I told them I was impressed by Arsenal supporters but that we had more trouble with the players," Stokken said.

Arsenal officials were playing the incident down. Manager Arsene Wenger is expected to address the matter in his weekly news conference later on Friday.

Arsenal top Champions League Group E with four points.

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Source: REUTERS
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