Marc Overmars is backing the decision to replay Arsenal's FA Cup fifth round tie against Sheffield United but the Dutchman insists he and new team-mate Nwankwo Kanu did not try to cheat when they conspired in the controversial winner-that-wasn't at Highbury.
Furious Sheffield United players accused the pair, ex-patriots from Ajax's 1995 European Cup-winning team, of flouting the unwritten sportsmanship law after Kanu intercepted a throw-in which Ray Parlour aimed at Sheffield goalkeeper Alan Kelly so that the visitors could have free possession following an injury to their teenage midfielder Lee Morris.
Overmars sprinted forward to plant debut-making Kanu's cross into an empty net and then all hell broke loose as the entire United team almost submerged referee Peter Jones and a linesman under their protests.
Furious United manager Steve Bruce tried to call his team off the pitch as the row raged for nearly eight minutes and Overmars appeared to take a blow in the back of the head from Sheffield's Shaun Derry as tempers boiled in a mass confrontation between players from both sides.
But Overmars said: "If I'm honest, I put the ball in the net because I didn't see what happened with the other side. I didn't know that it was because of an injury that the goalkeeper had kicked the ball out of play.
"I spoke with Kanu afterwards and he was definitely not happy. He was very sad, just sitting in a corner of the room wondering what happened.
"I don't think he knew what was going on when the throw-in was taken, and when I saw him running towards the goal with the ball I just ran with him.
"But the replay is a good plan. I'm happy with that because it was a mistake and here is a chance to do something about it. I've never experienced anything like this before and it's very sad the way it has gone, but now we can put it right."
Kanu, the £3 million signing from Inter Milan, who had made his Highbury bow just eleven minutes earlier, also claimed he was unaware of the circumstances.
"I don't feel as if I have tried to do something that was wrong," he said. "I thought the game was going on as normal. But the Sheffield United players were obviously very angry with me. They called me some names and they were really upset. But if there is going to be a replay then maybe it is the best way."
It was Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger who immediately offered the replay solution, and after sanctioning it, the FA praised his sportsmanship and generosity.
The first goal of the match came when Patrick Vieira headed Arsenal in front from Dennis Bergkamp's free kick.
New French striker Kaba Diawara, starting for the first time in place of compatriot Nicolas Anelka whom Wenger decided to rest, twice hit a post within the space of four minutes.
He also saw another shot brilliantly saved by Kelly and the Cup holders who, amazingly, have still not won a home tie in the competition for six years, were never able to fully impose themselves again after United's Brazilian striker Marcelo headed an equaliser early in the second half.
The FA have declared that Saturday's game is a "completed tie" and that only the result is void.
Arsenal: Seaman, Vivas, Bould, Grimandi, Winterburn, Parlour, Garde (Hughes 43), Vieira, Overmars, Bergkamp, Diawara (Kanu 64). Subs Not Used: Anelka, Manninger, Upson. Goals: Vieira 28, Overmars 76.
Sheffield United: Kelly, Derry, Sandford, Holdsworth, Quinn, Morris, Woodhouse, Hamilton, Stuart, Devlin (Twiss 83), Marcelo. Subs Not Used: Ford, Tracey, O'Connor, Jacobsen. Booked: Stuart, Hamilton, Holdsworth, Derry, Marcelo. Goals: Marcelo 48.
Referee: P Jones (Loughborough).
