It is clear the FA are completely stupid as they appear to have no intention to punish Drogba or Essien for striking players, but will charge Eboue.

Well Done FA for another rubbish decision.

Maria Castagna, Edgware,

I thought the fight was the best bit...

Huw, London,

Arsenal couldnt accept defeat. They were not man enough to admit Chelsea were the superior team. Arsenal were dancing the whole night while Chelsea were playing football.

Jango Ang , Subang Jaya , Malaysia,

Yesterday's Independent newspaper said they had gone through the video footage frame by frame and found three players striking other players around the head, Eboue of Arsenal and Drogba and Essien of Chelsea. They said they could find no video evidence of Adebayor striking anyone.

The FA has exactly the same video footage and have charged Eboue, upheld the sending off of Adebayor, but taken no action against either Drogba and Essien.

How can the FA claim to be fair and consistent and yet take no action against two players apparently caught on camera striking opponents at head level?

Richard, Surrey, England

Chelsea play a cynical game and must have amongst the highest fouls per game in the premiership. Michael Essien's challenge on Julio Baptista is an example of this cynicism should have been a straight red for the intent to injure. This is part of Essien's game and was in retaliation to having been outmaneuvered by Baptista on several occassions. Obi's blatant kick on Hleb, in front of the ref, seconds before the incident with Toure also deserved a yellow card. Cynical pay and lenient refereeing that have allowed teams to adapt overly "physical strategies" will continue to lead to on-pitch brawls. Anyone who has played competitive sport at any advanced will tell you that referee inconsistency and leniency to fouls are more frustrating than losing.

edwin, Johannesburg, RSA

The melee at the end was blown out of all proportion. It tarnished the occasion a little bit but it was just down to passion. It's a Cup Final and players want to win it, don't they?

Danny, Ashford, UK

the arsenal players involved can consider themselves unlucky but then hasn't the fa always persucuted our black players?
paul davis, ian wright, patrick vieira and now they must be rubbing their hands with glee at the thought of toure, eboue and adebayor in one sweet package.
the simple truth is that lampard, robben,mikel, drogba and bridge have been allowed to get away with cheating, diving, violent conduct and aggresive behaviour while the arsenal players are punished for standing by their team mates.
when people say "but the kids were watching!" i always say this, would you rather your son was a fighter (the arsenal boys) or a cowardly cheat (the chelsea girls)?
:)

lex, london,

I agree with Chris from Leigh, both teams behaviour was pathetic, someone needs to remind them that the pitch is not the playground and that they are professionals who people have paid good money to see, therefore they dont want to be subjected to a display of fisticuffs. Harsher penalties should be given.

Disappointed Gunner, Reading , UK

Toure should not have reacted to the shirt pulling so strongly but maybe he wouldn't have if the ref had blown his whistle. lampard showed his true colours, fabregas was trying to keep the piece and ended up getting thumped by Drogba, Essien shouldn't even be allowed to play and also hit a player. Bridge was a disgrace and should have been carded for trying to get a player sent off. Adebayor saw Fabregas get thumped and tried to intervene. Chelsea had 5 players who should have been carded to Arsenals 2.

Martin, Merseyside, UK

And what about Fabregas grabbing Lampard arond the neck and swinging him to the ground. That in itself probably sparked off the mass brawl and Fabregas should maybe have been red-carded as well. Fabregas and Lampard were first on the scene and initally appeared to be trying merely to intervene between Toure and Mikel. But then Fabregas hauled Lampard away by the neck and it was then that all hell let loose!! Talented though Fabregas is it is about time he started showing some semblance of respect to people of far greater years and standing in the game, remember the Mark Hughes incident ??

john bartlett, ipswich, england

Can anyone tell me why Mikel was dismissed? He was clearly trying to distance himself from Toure and the ensuing fracas. The initial fowl was worth a booking at worst.
Although any neutral observer would see Arsenal as the main aggressors, Lampard does appear to have been the most culpable of the Chelsea players. It is the lack of common sense applied by the FA that is most frustrating. Each incident should be judged seperately but I feel that the FA are often trying to 'make an example' of certain teams or simply playing at politics.

C. Atkinson, Lancaster, UK

As usual, instead of penalising the theatrics of Bridge, which have even less of a place in English football than scenes like Sunday's, the FA come down on so-called "violent conduct" that was no such thing. The players of bygone eras would be ashamed to hear that being called "violent".

Harinder, Wembley, UK

The FA will have reviewd the video many times more than Messrs Chris and Jon. They wil hsave looked at it with a less biased eye. If they really thought Bridges was acting they would have taken action. Perhapdstheir view of events is a little more realistic than yours, guys..

Roger Tilbury, Worthing,

"Having been seen by many as the aggressors in a brawl prompted by Kolo Touré’s reaction to having his shirt pulled by Mikel, Arsenal will be hit hardest by the suspensions."

Shouldn't that read "Having been seen by only The Times as the aggressors..." Many actually hold Lampard to be the aggressor as the initial incident was wholly between Mikel and Toure until the Chelsea captain intervened. Adebayor was clearly seen seperating players and yet the FA upheld his red card? Typical.

Harry, London,

How about Lampard's role in fueling the scuffle even further? Arsenal should be seen to be vigorously standing by their players and not pliantly acceding to injustice!

Gilbert A. Phiri, Swindon, UK

The suggested fine is derisory. The match bans are too few. Mr Wenger and most of his players have no conception of the profound insult their behaviour has levelled at the long and honourable tradition of cup football in this country. Mr Mourinho is silent? Perhaps that is just as well since he has even less understanding of English Culture and values than does Mr Wenger.
Both teams should be excluded from next years Carling Cup. Zero tolerance may just restore some semblance of decency. We are preparing to host the Olympics which are based on the highest human values. Messrs Wenger and Mourinho with their Teams could learn much from studying those values.

Chris., Leigh., UK

Truly disgraceful behaviour, but nothing new or unexpected from Arsenal, who have been getting away with it for far too long. Instead of constantly blaming officials, opposing sides or their managers, Wenger should take the blame for setting such a dreadful example to his players. The league are also responsible, as they have shown far too much leniency towards him. Even Mourinho and Ferguson can lose gracefully sometimes. In all, the game would benefit greatly, if Mr Wenger could be persuaded, forcefully if necessary, to refrain from throwing his teddy in the corner, every time his side lose.

Rory, Switzerland,

What has also been overlooked, apart from big girls blouse Bridges getting Eboue in trouble, Drogba cuffing Fabrigas and Essien slapping Edmilson.
Strange how Sky Sports who show incidents a million times a day have ignored these.
Even stranger is how the FA the 'custodians' of the game missed these sending off offences.
Or as Wenger has realised nothing the incompetent FA does is strange when it comes to Arsenal.

chris dee, leyton, london

What about charging Wayne Bridge with a poor dramatic performance? His flouncing dive to the ground after receiving a light cuff from an opponent seemed designed to deliberately get another player into trouble. Hardly anyone's mentioned his part in the shabby proceedings.

Jon, Birmingham, UK