Nigel Pearson: Leicester City manager avoids FA charge

Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson will not be charged by the Football Association over his clash with Crystal Palace's James McArthur.

But the FA has written to Pearson to remind him of his responsibilities.

The Foxes manager grabbed McArthur by the throat after being knocked over on the touchline by the midfielder in Leicester's 1-0 defeat on Saturday.

He then helped McArthur up before preventing the player from returning to the field by grabbing his shirt.

The match officials saw the incident and it is understood the FA decided to take no action after contacting them to clarify their understanding of what had happened.

Pearson described the altercation with McArthur as "light-hearted"

The defeat by Palace left Leicester bottom of the Premier League.

Reports on Sunday suggested Pearson had been sacked but the club described the rumours as "inaccurate and without foundation".

In a news conference on Monday, Pearson refused to discuss speculation over his job as he dismissed the altercation with McArthur as "light-hearted" and said it had been "put to bed".

McArthur slid into Pearson after attempting to tackle Marc Albrighton. Initially, it looked as if both Pearson and McArthur would laugh off the incident, even after the Foxes boss grabbed McArthur around the throat before helping him to his feet.

But then it appeared to become more confrontational, with Pearson preventing McArthur from returning to the field by grabbing his shirt.

Asked after the match why he had held McArthur back, Pearson replied: "Because he said something to me.

"I don't have to reveal anything, do I? I'm more than capable of looking after myself. There's no problem with the player."

In December, Pearson was given a touchline ban and fined for insulting a Leicester fan during the 3-1 defeat by Liverpool.