No further action from Oxford following ‘headbutt’ allegations
Oxford United won’t be pursuing police action following allegations of a half-time scuffle in the Stadium of Light tunnel.
A remarkable row broke out after Sunderland’s 3-1 win over Oxford on Good Friday following a feisty League One encounter.
Oxford boss Karl Robinson alleged that his goalkeeper Jack Stevens was headbutted during the halftime incident, with tempers flaring again at the full-time whistle following Max Power's late goal.
Robinson himself was shown a red card for abusing referee Trevor Kettle after Aiden McGeady put Sunderland 2-0 ahead.
Robinson threatened to involve the police but it is understood that now won’t be the case and there will be no further action.
Though the FA will likely want to speak to both clubs to get their versions of the incident.
Speaking afterwards, Sunderland head coach Lee Johnson said he wanted to draw a line under the incident and insisted that there was more to the story than initially suggested by the Oxford manager.
"He’s (Robinson) got to be careful, I’ll tell you that," Johnson said.
"When it comes to the narrative of any argument, there are always two sides to any story. Let me tell you, there was a lot of Oxford
staff that didn’t come out of it smelling of roses, let’s just say that.
"I didn’t see the first incident (at half-time), but I saw the second one [at fulltime] and, for me, it was really stepping over the mark. So, I think there’s a bit of deflection in there from a few people.
“I want to draw a line under it now. For me, it’s a
man’s game and we’ll crack on. It’s up to anybody else what they do, but I would be careful throwing out some of the things that I’ve heard."
Johnson had said earlier in his post-match interview that the incident was 'not worth blowing out of proportion'.
Speaking on Friday, Robinson had said: "We have asked the police to come. Their players have seen it, our players have seen it. My player certainly felt it. But for some unknown reason there is no footage. Ironic here, isn't it.
“My goalkeeper, he was headbutted at half time, there was a massive brawl in there.
“I think there was just handbags. I walked in at half time, quite calm. I was calm for large parts of the game."
Referee Trevor Kettle took no action at the time of the incident, and it is not yet clear what he will include in his post-match report.
Sunderland head to Peterborough United today, three points off top with two games in hand on league leaders Hull City.
Posh remain second in League One following their victory over Fleetwood
Town on Friday.
Lee Johnson will be hoping the focus can return to the football today with Sunderland keen to build on the impressive win over Oxford, who themselves had been in good form heading into the game on Wearside on Friday.
Goals from Lynden Gooch, Aiden McGeady and Power sealed the three points.