THE FA is to write to Manchester United and Blackburn Rovers and to Greater Manchester Police to request their observations on the fracas in the tunnel at half-time during the Carling Cup semi-final second leg on Wednesday, but a cover-up operation on the part of both clubs means that few details — and therefore almost certainly no disciplinary charges — are likely to be forthcoming.
Players from United and Blackburn were involved in an angry confrontation after Rio Ferdinand barged Robbie Savage on the way to the tunnel, with an excitable ball-boy caught on television gesturing that fists were flying as the two sets of players charged into the darkness. Rumours abound that a punch was thrown by one player, but witnesses maintain that, although there were angry words exchanged, the scenes went no further than a bout of pushing and shoving.
Mark Hughes, the Blackburn manager, discussed the matter yesterday, making a passionate defence of Savage, but he said: “In my view not a great deal happened. There are observers in every tunnel area these days and if anything merited reporting or questioning, I think it would have been brought up by now.
“You will have to ask Rio Ferdinand why he did what he did as he was leaving the pitch. But it was something and nothing and I think we can draw a line under it.”
The FA hoped that Graham Poll, the referee, would be able to shed some light on the matter, but the Hertfordshire official is expected to say in his report that the rumpus had died down before he reached the tunnel. The FA is preparing to write to both clubs and to Greater Manchester Police, which usually has officers stationed in the tunnel at Old Trafford, for further observations.
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The likelihood is that, with a lack of concrete evidence, no disciplinary action will follow, which will come as a relief to United after two of their players were charged with regard to separate incidents yesterday. Gary Neville was charged with improper conduct by the FA for the way in which he celebrated United’s last-minute winning goal against Liverpool on Sunday, while Cristiano Ronaldo was charged with misconduct by Uefa, European football ‘s governing body, for a gesture at the home crowd during the 2-1 Champions League defeat away to Benfica on December 7.
Ronaldo’s hearing has been scheduled for Wednesday and might be regarded as something of an irrelevance with United out of Europe and any suspension unlikely to take effect until next season, but Neville, who has been given ten days to respond by the FA, is unlikely to take any punishment lying down.
If found guilty of improper conduct, Neville is likely to receive a fine rather than a ban, with Mike Riley, the referee, having told the FA’s disciplinary department that he would have issued a yellow card had he seen the player celebrating as he did in front of the Liverpool supporters. The United captain, having written a vehement defence of his actions in his column in The Times on Tuesday, is almost certain to take the opportunity to put his case across at a personal hearing.
At least Neville can look forward to leading United out in the Carling Cup final against Wigan Athletic on February 26 after goals from Ruud van Nistelrooy and Louis Saha gave them a 2-1 victory over Blackburn on Wednesday, ensuring a 3-2 win on aggregate.
“At the start of the season, people would say it is the lowest on our list of priorities but it is pretty high now,” the defender said on Wednesday evening. “I’ve been at United a long time and I am desperate to win the trophy. I want to win it, not because I am captain, but purely because I play for Manchester United and that is what is expected of us.”