Mexican referee Baldomero Toledo dismissed Vieira in the 21st minute

Manchester City's Patrick Vieira is unlikely to miss this month's start of the season after being sent off in the 3-0 friendly defeat by Inter Milan.

The midfielder was adjudged to have elbowed Inter defender Marco Materazzi in the 21st minute in Baltimore.

But a Football Association spokesman said: "If a player gets a red card in a friendly he gets a ban for his next friendly, not for competitive matches.

"If overseas, it is dependent on it being reported to us by the host FA."

The spokesman added: "We retain the right to charge players in the most serious of misconduct cases and make sanctions applicable to competitive first-team fixtures if it is felt necessary."

He hinted that the Vieira incident was not viewed as such a case.

606: DEBATE There was no intent. Stupid decision petejanes

City assistant manager Brian Kidd felt the dismissal was unjustified.

"Patrick has gone for the ball - he genuinely didn't see the player," he stated.

"There was no intent there. Hopefully people will realise that it wasn't a genuine foul."

Goals from Victor Obinna, Cristiano Biraghi and an own goal from Joleon Lescott sealed the game for Rafael Benitez's Inter side.

City's Premier League campaign opens on 14 August at Tottenham.

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