FA charge is scandalous, says Hull boss Phil Brown
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Brown outraged by FA charge
Hull boss Phil Brown has described the Football Association charge facing his club as "scandalous".
Arsenal and Hull have been accused of failing to control their players after a mass confrontation during the Gunners' 3-0 win on Saturday.
It was sparked when Arsenal midfielder Samir Nasri appeared to deliberately tread on Richard Garcia.
"For us to come under criticism is absolutely scandalous and we'll be defending it," said Brown.
"We conducted ourselves in the right manner right the way through the game.
I think it is harsh but we will try to defend ourselves
Arsene Wenger
"There was an incident where for some reason - and I can't answer the accusations against Nasri - he decided to light the touchpaper. We had no say in that matter whatsoever."
Nasri, along with Hull's Stephen Hunt and Nicky Barmby, were booked for their part in the melee.
The Gunners midfielder escaped any retrospective punishment for the initial foul after referee Steve Bennett reviewed video evidence.
Brown believes Arsenal were responsible for the ugly scenes that followed.
"We were playing competitive football in the first half and defending valiantly for our lives and catching Arsenal every so often on the counter attack," added Brown.
"We were doing our job to the best of our ability and maybe that's the reason they decided to light the touchpaper, I've got no idea."
However, coach Arsene Wenger says Arsenal will make a vigorous defence against the charge.
"I think it is harsh but we will try to defend ourselves," he told the club's website. "I don't think it was a major incident compared to what can happen in a football game.
"At the start, the incident was created by Nasri's involvement but after that it was more players of Hull who were around it than Arsenal players. That's why we will try to defend it."
It is not the first time the two teams have fallen out.
Last season, Brown claimed Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas spat at his assistant Brian Horton after the Gunners had scored two late goals to knock Hull out of the FA Cup.
The Spaniard strongly denied Brown's accusation, and was later cleared by the FA because of a lack of evidence.
Brown, meanwhile, was found guilty of improper conduct for criticising the referee after the game, calling Mike Riley's performance "disgraceful".
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