LVG wants extra day over FA ref rap
LOUIS VAN GAAL still intends to contest his FA disrepute charge despite asking the governing body for an extra 24 hours to officially respond. The Manchester United manager said on Friday he would dispute the charge and was due to inform the FA by close of play yesterday. It is understood Van Gaal will still do this and that he has merely been given an extra day by the FA after asking for more time to formalise his response. Van Gaal was charged for criticising referee Chris Foy after United’s 0-0 draw at Cambridge in the FA Cup at the start of January. United then won the replay. Meanwhile, West Ham defender James Tomkins has accused Robin van Persie of malicious intent after the striker’s flailing arm knocked him to the ground in the 1-1 draw on Sunday. Tomkins ended the game with a broken nose after also being caught in the face by substitute Marouane Fellaini. He had already taken a blow by Van Persie, who appeared to look over at the incoming defender before lashing out an arm. Mark Clattenburg only gave the Dutchman a talking to, but Tomkins claims there was more to it. ‘The nose is a bit swollen,’ he said. ‘Fellaini has always got that about him when he goes up with his hands a lot. It is tough to say he does it deliberately, but with Van Persie, I think he had a look at me first and then he has gone for me. I think that was more malicious than the other one, even though I came out worse the second time. ‘I think it was definitely a yellow at least, but I don’t like to say that someone should have got sent off. I am sure that there are challenges that I might make in the future that could be yellow or something else.’ Van Persie will not face action for the incident because it was clearly seen by Clattenburg, who deemed it not worthy of a card.