Man Utd players were warming down after their loss when the scuffle broke out
The Football Association will request CCTV footage of a scuffle involving Manchester United players and Chelsea staff at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. Patrice Evra, Gary Neville, Ji-Sung Park and Paul Scholes were warming down after a 2-1 loss when they were asked to move by groundstaff, sparking a row. "We will obviously be asking Chelsea to let us see their CCTV footage of the incident," said an FA spokesman. "This will have nothing to do with the referee's report." The spokesman explained that referee Alan Wiley would have been in his dressing room, a long way from the incident. Both clubs say they will look at footage before deciding on any action. Meanwhile, United's Rio Ferdinand apologised to a steward after accidently kicking her following Michael Ballack's late penalty winner. Ferdinand lashed out at a brick wall as he walked off the pitch but also made contact with a female steward.
We will be studying the relevant CCTV and camera footage
Chelsea spokesman
"Unfortunately, a lady was stood by and I accidentally brushed her with my foot. I apologised profusely and went back to make sure she was OK," he said. "I have arranged for a bouquet of flowers to be sent to her. "Credit to her, she laughed it off and was very understanding. She said she wasn't hurt." Minutes earlier Ferdinand was involved in a shoving match with fellow England captaincy contender John Terry and Chelsea's John Mikel Obi. Ferdinand was infuriated by referee Alan Wiley's decision to award the late penalty, given on the advice of an assistant referee, for a Michael Carrick handball, that Michael Ballack converted to give Chelsea victory.
Ferdinand's temper got the better of him after Ballack's winner
It brought the Blues level on points with United at the top of the Premier League with two games remaining, with United enjoying a superior goal difference by 16. Nothing will be decided in the title race now until at least Monday, 5 May, when Chelsea travel to Newcastle, two days after United host West Ham. If United beat the Hammers, Chelsea will need at least a point at St James' Park to ensure the race goes to the final day, when the Blues host relegation-threatened Bolton and United travel to Wigan. Before the resumption of Premier League hostilities, United and Chelsea play the second leg of their Champions League semi-finals, against Barcelona and Liverpool respectively, this week. United are hoping defender Nemanja Vidic and striker Wayne Rooney will be fit for Tuesday's return fixture at Old Trafford, after a 0-0 draw in the first leg in Barcelona. Serbian centre-back Vidic was forced off early on at Stamford Bridge with a facial injury following a challenge for the ball with Didier Drogba, while England star Rooney departed with a hip problem, after scoring the equaliser. Boss Sir Alex Ferguson said: "Vidic has a few stitches under his lip and he's lost a tooth. "He was dazed rather than concussed but if we'd waited for him to come round we would have played 10 or 15 minutes with 10 men and you can't afford that in such a big game. So we had to take him off. "Rooney's got the same knock as he got last week, straight on the hip bone. It takes a while for that to clear because when you get a bang on it, it's very painful. I'm hopeful he will be all right for Tuesday."
The Football Association will ask to see 'all details and TV footage' of the post-match bust-up between Manchester United players and Chelsea staff.
United substitutes became embroiled in a scuffle with Stamford Bridge groundstaff and stewards in the warm-down following Saturday's 2-1 defeat. FA spokesman Andrin Cooper revealed the governing body will be looking into the matter, saying: 'This will have nothing to do with the referee's report. He would have been in his dressing room a long way from the incident. 'But we will obviously be asking Chelsea to let us see their CCTV footage of the incident.' Chelsea issued a statement after the game saying they would be 'reviewing the relevant footage and will be considering the appropriate course of action'. United have also asked to see the pictures so they can consider what action to take. Patrice Evra, Paul Scholes, John O'Shea, Gerard Pique and Gary Neville were taking part in the warm-down on the pitch when they were asked to move by Chelsea groundstaff. The row erupted when the players refused to come off the pitch and an altercation broke out between stewards, groundstaff and the United players.
發表於 2008-4-28 08:46 PM
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Man Utd players were warming down after their loss when the scuffle broke out
Ferdinand's temper got the better of him after Ballack's winner
