Manchester: Romelu Lukaku was accused of acting “like a second-row rugby player” as he tried to get to Manchester City’s players during the extraordinary tunnel bust-up at Old Trafford after Sunday’s Manchester derby that prompted both clubs and the Football Association to launch investigations on Monday.
The United striker rushed towards the City dressing room to back up his manager, Jose Mourinho, as ugly scenes broke out between the rival clubs after City’s 2-1 victory moved them 11 points clear at the top of the Premier League.
United and City are conducting internal inquiries and must provide the FA with their accounts of what happened before the governing body decides whether there is sufficient evidence to pursue charges against individuals and/or the clubs.
It also emerged that a member of United’s staff was covered in milk after a one-pint carton was thrown towards Mourinho, only to miss the Portuguese and explode against a wall, and Mikel Arteta, one of City manager Pep Guardiola’s assistants, suffered a cut to the head after being knocked against a wall or door in the skirmishes.
Greater Manchester Police have not launched an investigation and will only do so if a formal complaint is lodged. One of their officers was stationed in the tunnel area and forced to intervene to help stewards deal with the fracas, although it is understood that he did not witness anything that he felt constituted criminal behaviour.
Although the row broke out in a narrow corridor outside City’s dressing room, which is opposite the referee’s room, and hidden from the main tunnel area, where television interviews are conducted, it is understood referee Michael Oliver did not see the row and has made no reference to it in his report.
A spokesman for the FA said: “The FA has sought observations from both clubs in relation to an incident which occurred following Sunday’s game.”
— The Telegraph Group Limited, London 2017
