Patrick Vieira has reluctantly decided not to contest the FA charge of violent conduct following Tuesday night’s 1-1 draw at Stoke City.

The Manchester City midfielder was charged following an incident involving Stoke’s Glenn Whelan during the first half of the Premier League fixture at the Britannia Stadium.

Patrick had until 6pm on Thursday to respond to the charge. And whilst he insists that there was no deliberate intention to injure Glenn Whelan, he accepts that contact was made, and therefore took the decision not to contest the charge.

He said: “At no time did I intend to injure Glenn Whelan. I apologised to him at the time, my foot did make contact with him, but I carried no malice at all toward him.”

The FA will announce a ruling on Patrick’s punishment for the incident tomorrow, but he is widely expected to incur a three match ban, meaning he will miss the forthcoming Premier League fixtures against Liverpool and at Chelsea and the FA Cup replay at Stoke City.