No FA rap for angry Aguero after Wigan fan spat

Striker is cleared of retaliating after facing abuse in pitch invasion

SERGIO AGUERO will face no disciplinary action from the FA following his altercation with a Wigan fan after Manchester City’s shock FA Cup defeat. Aguero (right) claimed a Wigan supporter shouted an obscenity and spat in his ear during the ugly scenes after the final whistle with TV footage appearing to show the City striker raising his arm to push the fan away. Aguero is understood to be considering legal action. Emotions boiled over just before the break on Monday night after Fabian Delph’s red card for a lunge on Max Power, which prompted a half-time row involving City manager Pep Guardiola and his Wigan counterpart Paul Cook. The FA confirmed last night that no-one from either club will face any disciplinary action over the tunnel spat.

SERGIO AGUERO claimed a Wigan supporter shouted an obscenity and spat in his ear during the ugly scenes which marred one of the biggest shocks in FA Cup history.

The Latics have identified the man who made a beeline for the Manchester City striker amid a pitch invasion at full time.

Aguero revealed the verbal abuse directed at him during a meeting with senior City staff and club lawyers yesterday and is understood to be considering legal action.

The supporter faces a lifetime ban if found guilty of assault, should Aguero eventually report the incident.

It is thought the 29-year-old was also struck on the head and does not face potential sanctions from the FA for retaliating.

Physiotherapist Steven Lilley pulled Aguero away before the situation could escalate and the FA informed the player he will not be charged for his part in Monday’s unedifying scenes. The Argentine claimed the fan had shouted ‘suck my d***’.

Aguero’s son Benjamin was celebrating his ninth birthday in the away end with his grandfather as events unfolded. Opposing supporters were goading each other, with objects hurled and City were left agitated by safety procedures.

Wigan, Greater Manchester Police and the FA all opened investigations yesterday. Emotions boiled over just before the break after Fabian Delph’s red card for a lunge on Max Power, with the FA charging both clubs for failing to control their players. They have until 6pm on Friday to respond.

Aguero played a key role in the tunnel fracas which followed, with Wigan manager Paul Cook infuriated by his remonstrating with referee Anthony Taylor after Nathan Byrne’s studs caught him high up the leg earlier in the half.

Sources claim Cook told City’s top scorer to ‘stop crying’ and this, in part, prompted his heated exchange with Pep Guardiola.

The argument spilled over into the tunnel, with a number of City staff and Wigan substitute Alex Bruce nearby as insults were traded. Another source claimed Guardiola’s reaction towards Cook — which was also sparked by his rival’s touchline manner — galvanised the League One club into engineering one of the greatest results in their history.

There was a sense of belief within the Wigan camp that City were ‘rattled’ and Cook’s side went on to clinch a famous win via Will Grigg’s 79th-minute finish.

The BBC broadcast part of the tunnel melee and were given approval to station a camera in that position after visiting the DW Stadium before the fifth-round tie. There are no restrictions on what they can air. The FA confirmed last night that nobody from either club will face any disciplinary action over the tunnel spat.

Shirts were not swapped between the players at full time and Grigg said: ‘It’s one of those things. I don’t think they were too happy but I was not concentrating on that — we wanted to concentrate on ourselves and a great win.

‘The last time I looked at my phone it was about 4am. I’m usually bad (at sleeping) after games but this one especially so.

‘We knew we would have a moment to score but probably not very many, so when the opportunity arises you have to take it.’