UNITED AND CITY IN TUNNEL BRAWL

Mourinho ‘hit on head’ by plastic bottle ...and were these the celebrations that sparked melee?

MANCHESTER UNITED and d Manchester City players were re involved in an ugly tunnel fracas as tempers boiled over after the derby. y.

United manager Jose Mourinho had water er squirted at him, was hit on the head by an empty plastic bottle and was also doused ed with milk from a flying carton as a melee ee ensued involving some 20 players and staff. .

Mourinho demanded City players show ow ‘more respect’ as music blared out of their eir dressing room and celebrations seemingly gly got out of hand following their 2-1 victory.

He had walked into City’s dressing room to make his feelings known and was confronted ed by City keeper Ederson. The two were involved ed in a heated exchange as they squared up, p, shouting at each other in Portuguese.

United players followed Mourinho into the he corridor between dressing rooms, sparking the he skirmishes. Witnesses said some players tried ed to swing punches while police looked on in disbelief. City feel Mourinho overstepped the he boundaries by entering their dressing room.

WHAT a shame that after an absorbing derby we are looking at an off-the-field incident. Michael Oliver, who refereed a tough game very well, will now have extra paperwork to do, whether or not he witnessed the alleged incident. If he did see it, then his jurisdiction continues after the final whistle, so he can report misconduct in the same way as if it occurred on the field. Any violent conduct by players or substitutes will be reported as red cards and attract similar punishments. If, as alleged, Jose Mourinho was involved, one can’t help thinking the Manchester United manager will be delighted if the attention turns to this incident rather than City dominating at Old Trafford and taking a big lead in the title race.