A bridge too far?

PHB wrote: »

Either way, as the video shows, it was your man who threw the first punch, so United players won't be punished.

eh, i dont think thats how it works

sure if a player hit one on the pitch and the other hits him back, they'll both get done, just maybe one more than the other

PHB wrote: »

Either way, as the video shows, it was your man who threw the first punch, so United players won't be punished.

The video shows SFA tbh. Is there any possibility that there was sound associated with the video? How would you propose that they pick up this alleged racist comment? To say Evra does nothing is stretching the bounds a bit, does he not actually lunge at the official? Is that not what actually happens? I'm sure I see Evra running into an official, and then him dodging a punch being thrown at him?

Secondly, this is not the whole of the video, merely a scuffle (I'm referring to the link you posted up) .

Thirdly, how come Utd came out yesterday and denied that there were any actual racist connotations, and yet today it appears that "sources inside the dressing room" say that there was? It's all turning into a bit of a PR joke tbh.

PHB wrote: »

Running up to someone isn't an offence. Punching someone is. Pretty simple distinction. Your man obviously said something that Evra ran up to him, the guy went to punch him, Evra ducked.

You have admitted yourself that this guy is some sort of a f**king nut. A fu*king nut running at me, would get a bit more than a punch. Also, anything can kick off a f*cking nut, so for you to say that "your man obviously said something", is erroneous and a bit sad, given your previous comment on Evra. Would you not agree that anything could kick off a nut?

I've no idea what the story is with United. Sources inside the dressing room is still to me just dodgy. Indeed did they ever even get a real source for United denying the things either? The truth will eventually come out.

Me neither, it just seems to be being handled in a very very shoddy manner.

Fergie summed it up himself perfectly:

"There's one question I want to put," he said. "Why were the lawnmowers going after the game to cut the grass? Were they not supposed to do it before the game?"

TBH when they decide to cut the grass is sfa got to do with fergie. If asking players to warm down on one side of the pitch as opposed to another sparks this kind of reaction from the like of Evra and his mates, he should be reminded that that kind of behaviour is not acceptable.

Rio should be given a severe rap on the knuckles as well for assaulting a female steward.

The video footage leaked leaves out the crucial bit though, what happened to set both Evra and the groundsman on the collision course. At the moment that seems to be a subjective element with contrasting claims from both sides. Dont know if it will be possible for the FA to get conclusive evidence for that, and therefore it cant really hand out punishments.

Prufrock wrote: »

When the guys cutting the grass get in a fight with his players it becomes his business. And I still make the point that you do all you pitch maintenance after the game is over and the away team is gone. What are they even doing on the pitch with United players? Makes no sense. I mean warm downs take less than 20 mins. The grass can wait. I mean ffs they just lost one on the biggest games of the season. Let them warm down in peace and use some cop on.

I'm actually not disagreeing with you, but I don't actually think that when the grass is cut at an away ground, is of any business to the opposing manager. The fact that a fight happened, is beside the point. The fact that the players where alleged to be asked to warm-down elsewhere, is also beside the point. A fracas like this should not have happened. People are saying that players where asked to warm down here and not there. People are saying that there was no racial abuse, yes there was, no there was not. People are saying "show me where" and when been shown are picking holes in what they have been shown. There are some undeniable facts:

1) A fracas developed between some Manu players and some ground staff after the game at the Bridge.
2) It has been reported that people in the Manu dressing room alleged that Evra was racially abused.
3) It has been reported that Tevez said that a "grave insult" was hurled in Evra's direction.
4) Manu and Chelsea quickly tried to distance themselves from any racial connotations yesterday, according to media reports.
5) The Guardian newspaper reported that after an interview with Tevez, a source from Manu claimed that Evra was racially abused.
6) Evra, in video footage, is clearly seen running at a steward in an agressive manner.
7) A steward, whether in defence or not, is seen swinging at Evra after he had aggressively run at him.
8) Evra is seen having to be restrained by other players and officials in the footage linked to by PHB.
9) Rio Ferdinand admits assaulting a female steward at the bridge, and leaving stud marks on her shin. He sends her flowers as an apology.

Heavy fine would do it I'd say.

Maybe, depending on how the FA handle it. It could result in a ban.

B-K-DzR wrote: »

Surely as it was after the game and outside the ref's jurisdictionn it's a police assault matter rather than an FA one? I'm not sure when the Police take over from the FA and vice versa. Either way it appears to have been an accident, an apology was made and apparently accepted so it's probably up to the steward to bring formal charges or not at this stage?

Whatever happens it's definately handbags and is overshadowing the game of football.

I don't see how you would call an assault on a female steward "handbags" tbh. Also some 'nut' running around on a pitch after the game, is hardly "handbags", it's at it's most lenient bringing the game into disrepute.

The FA and Police can hold simultaneous investigations into events involving players both on and off the pitch. Can you not remember the whole "drugs" incident with Rio when he "forgot" and when his phone was "off"? That happened off the pitch and the FA still banned him.