Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson on Friday accused the Football Association (FA) of letting Arsenal off the hook over the fracas that broke out after the two clubs' ill-tempered Premiership clash in September.
In remarks that reignited his long-simmering feud with Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, Ferguson claimed the Gunners would be "delighted" with the sanctions announced by the FA on Thursday and said he understood why many people suspected a deal had been done.
Ferguson's comments came a day after Arsenal were fined a record 175,000 pounds and had four of their players banned for a total of nine matches as a result of the Old Trafford clashes.
The United manager dismissed suggestions that the punishment was fair. "I think Arsenal will be delighted with the decision, that's without question," he said.
Ferguson went on to cite a newspaper report that Arsenal insiders knew what the punishment would be a week before the fines and bans were announced.
"I read this morning they did a deal before they went in there and I think that was the suspicion right throughout the country that a deal was being done," he said.
Wenger responded to Ferguson's comments with the withering tone he generally reserves for his verbal spats with the Scot.
"Some people are happy with the sentences we've been given, some people are not happy," the Frenchman said. "For some, even if you hang us it will not be enough. Maybe they wanted it at Hyde Park in front of the whole country! We cannot influence that."
Ferguson's comments could land him in hot water with the FA although he did stop short -- though only just -- of overtly accusing the FA of coming to a behind-the-scenes compromise with Arsenal.
Such outbursts have cost Ferguson dear in the past. Last season he was fined by UEFA after suggesting the Champions League quarter-final draw, which pitted his side against Real Madrid, had been fixed.
Arsenal had defenders Lauren and Martin Keown banned for four and three matches respectively while skipper Patrick Vieira and Ray Parlour will each serve one-match bans. The four players and Ashley Cole were also fined heavily on top of the record fine imposed on their club for failing to control them.
Wenger said he regarded the punishment meted out to his players as harsh and said the club had not ruled out an appeal.
Ferguson's comments reflect the fact that the bans, which come into force on November 17, will not deprive Arsenal of players for any really big games.
If Arsenal do not appeal, the biggest impact will come when all four players will miss the Premiership trip to Birmingham on November 22.
But Vieira might have missed that match through injury anyway and the league leaders should be able to survive without Keown and Lauren for their next two matches - a visit of Fulham and a League Cup clash with Wolves.
Lauren will serve the final match of his ban when Arsenal travel to bottom side Leicester on December 6.
The hefty bans for Keown and Lauren reflected their central role in the violent jostling of United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy immediately after the final whistle.
Parlour was also part of the group that surrounded and jeered the Dutch forward over a late penalty miss.
Vieira paid the price for his failure to leave the field immediately after being sent off for kicking out at van Nistelrooy late in the game.
The fine imposed on Arsenal was for the club's failure to control its players and was the highest ever imposed on an English club by the governing body.
Manchester United players Ryan Giggs and Cristiano Ronaldo also face disciplinary action over the incidents at Old Trafford. Their cases are still pending however because United are contesting the charges of improper conduct laid against them.