It is likely that Manchester United will receive a £25,000 fine after picking up seven yellow cards at Chelsea yesterday. Sir Alex Ferguson was left biting his lip in dissatisfaction following Mike Riley’s poor performance at Stamford Bridge, claiming there had not been a bad tackles in the game.
However United will still be hit by an automatic penalty, even if they are unlikely to be called to account for their conduct as a team.
The FA will wait for Riley’s report before deciding whether to look into a clash between Rio Ferdinand and Didier Drogba on the final whistle which left the Chelsea man needing treatment.
“It was a competitive game but I did not think there was one bad tackle in it,” said Ferguson of the 1-1 draw.
“The game is being screened worldwide. Everyone is watching it and something like that happens.
“People are saying what is going on here but it is difficult to say anything about the referee. I do not want to get involved.”
Ferguson was clearly unhappy with Riley’s performance, as were a number of his senior players as Salomon Kalou levelled 10 minutes from time after Park Ji-sung had put the visitors in front midway through the first-half.
And United’s afternoon did not get much less stormy after they had left Stamford Bridge as their team coach was attacked on the short trip to Euston station.
A bottle was hurled from the pavement, cracking the windscreen, although no-one was injured, with United officials eager to play down the incident afterwards.
“Yes. There was an incident but the matter is now in the hands of the police,” said a club spokesman.
