Lukakuwas ‘like a rugby player’ as he backed up Mourinho
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 yesterday.
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 have been given until 6pm tomorrow to provide the FA with their accounts of what happened before the governing body decide 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 onepint carton was thrown towards Mourinho, only to miss the Portuguese and explode against a wall.
• Mourinho allegedly told City’s Brazilian goalkeeper, Ederson, in English to “show some f ****** respect” after the pair had initially hurled insults at each other in Portuguese.
• City captain Vincent Kompany, Lukaku’s Belgium teammate, was among a number of people who had to be restrained in the 15-man melee amid widespread pushing and shoving.
• Mikel Arteta (below), one of City manager Pep Guardiola’s assistants, suffered a cut to the head after being hit by a plastic bottle.
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 be- haviour. 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. The FA must have very clear evidence to issue charges against individuals.
The clubs could be charged with failing to control their players and/or staff, which may result in a fine, or they could just be warned and reminded of their responsibilities. In a separate matter, the FA are also seeking United’s observations over why a flare was thrown onto the pitch.
A spokesman for the FA said: “The FA have sought observations from both clubs in relation to an incident which occurred following Sunday’s game.”
Tempers flared after Mourinho went to City’s dressing room to tell their victorious players to show more respect and to keep their music down after objecting to what he apparently felt was the “antagonistic” nature of the celebrations.
One source said City were celebrating “as if they’d already won the league”.
It was also claimed that City’s pre-match music — which featured songs by Oasis — had been played so loud that the vibrations could be heard along the corridor where the home dressing room is situated.
Mourinho became embroiled in a row with Ederson, who happened to be standing just inside the dressing room door, and the pair began trading insults in Portuguese. Mourinho was then alleged to have told the goalkeeper in English: “You f ****** show respect. Who are you?”
It is understood that a onepint milk carton, which had been left in the City dressing room for tea and coffee, was thrown in the direction of Mourinho but ended up missing the manager, instead hitting a wall and splattering over a member of United’s staff close by.
Some United players had emerged from their dressing room amid the commotion, no- tably Lukaku, and sought to back up Mourinho, with about 15 people from both sides involved in total.
Lukaku was likened to a “second-row rugby player”, towering directly behind Mourinho, as the Belgium striker joined in the slanging.
But reports from Spanish radio station Cadena SER claiming Lukaku had thrown a plastic bottle that hit Arteta on the head were refuted by senior sources at both United and City. Asked about Lukaku’s role in the skirmishes, the player’s agent, Mino Raiola, said last night that he “was not there” and, as such, could not comment. Asked if he had spoken to Lukaku about the incident, Raiola said: “No.”
Arteta was pictured covering his head with a hand as he drove in for training yesterday in a Chevrolet.
Arteta had been left with blood streaming from a cut above an eyebrow but it is not known if it occurred when he was hit with a bottle or knocked into either a door or a wall.
The melee lasted for no more than two minutes before stewards and a police officer intervened. Mourinho disappeared to the referee’s room after the row and then conducted a series of interviews, in which he made no reference to the bust-up.
The scenes evoked memories of the infamous ‘Battle of the Buffet’ in 2004 when Arsenal were United’s opponents at Old Trafford and Sir Alex Ferguson was pelted with pizza.