Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy was charged with ``serious foul play'' by the Football Association on Monday for his tackle on Ashley Cole in a 2-0 victory over Arsenal. Van Nistelrooy kicked the Arsenal defender in the knee in the first half of Sunday's game at Old Trafford. Match officials did not see the incident, but it was shown repeatedly on television replays.

After reviewing the footage, the FA announced the charge against the Dutch forward and gave him until Tuesday evening to plead innocent or guilty. The case will be heard by the FA's disciplinary commission on Thursday. Van Nistelrooy could face a long suspension.

The FA also ordered Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger to explain his post-match comments about van Nistelrooy and referee Mike Riley. Wenger accused van Nistelrooy of being a ``cheat'' and suggested that Riley favoured Manchester United, noting that he had given a series of penalties to the home team in recent Old Trafford games.

Van Nistelrooy scored on a disputed penalty Sunday after Riley ruled that Arsenal defender Sol Campbell had tripped Wayne Rooney in the box.