FA clears Blackburn skipper Todd

Todd's career statistics

Blackburn defender Andy Todd has been cleared of violent conduct by the Football Association.

Todd, 30, was charged following a clash with Arsenal's Robin van Persie in Saturday's FA Cup semi-final.

Van Persie had just scored his second goal in Arsenal's 3-0 win in Cardiff when defender Todd appeared to elbow the striker in the face.

Todd denied the charge, claiming it was "purely accidental" and that Van Persie "ran into my shoulder".

After hearing he was cleared, Todd told Rovers' website: "It has been a difficult few days but justice has been done.

I for one am glad he's been cleared. You can't punish a man who you don't know for certain is guilty From LM Have your say on 606

"I can now concentrate on the job of helping Rovers continue to climb the table in the last few weeks of the season."

Rovers' boss Mark Hughes was also relieved that his skipper was cleared of the charge.

Hughes said: "We were always confident and when we had the chance to view the pictures in detail our view of Andy's innocence was totally confirmed.

"It goes without saying how delighted we are and we applaud the commission's decision made against a background of unprecedented and unjustified media coverage."