Red Devils set to face the music

BEIJING, April 28 -- The Football Association wants to see TV footage of a post-game fracas between Manchester United players and Chelsea security staff after the Red Devils lost 1-2 to the Blues on Saturday.

At least four United players were involved in the incident after the stormy loss at Stamford Bridge and the FA announced yesterday it would take a look at video and closed circuit footage before deciding whether to take any disciplinary action.

Patrice Evra, Gary Neville, John O'Shea and Paul Scholes were running around the field in a warm-down when they reportedly clashed with Chelsea security staff.

With at least three more of United stars potentially in trouble for incidents on the field, manager Alex Ferguson faces an anxious wait to see what is in the report that referee Alan Wiley hands to the FA today.

The warm-down incident will be a separate issue, the FA said.

"This will have nothing to do with the referee's report. He would have been in his dressing room a long way from the incident," FA spokesman Andrin Cooper said yesterday. "But we will obviously be asking Chelsea to let us see their CCTV footage of the incident."

There was also trouble before and after Wiley awarded Chelsea an 86th-minute penalty which Michael Ballack converted for the winner. Goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar and centerback Rio Ferdinand ran over to confront the linesman who flagged it for a handball by Michael Carrick.

Ferguson was furious that the penalty was given. "It's a major decision that's cost us the game," he said. "To give a penalty for that in a game of such importance, on the linesman's say-so, is absolutely diabolical.

"Granted the ball hit his (Carrick's) hand but he couldn't get out of the road. He didn't lift his hands above his shoulders or above his head, and the ball was going straight to Rio Ferdinand anyway. The referee should have seen that."

Ferguson said his own team should have had two penalties.

"Earlier, when (Cristiano) Ronaldo came on, he was grappled almost to the floor by Ballack and it was a clear penalty kick," Ferguson said. "And when Carrick went down in the same way, the referee was right there but again he didn't give it."

Ferdinand was also involved in a flareup with Chelsea midfielder Claude Makelele and, as he walked into the tunnel after the game, angrily kicked a wall but accidentally made contact with a female member of Chelsea's security staff.

"I kicked the wall in frustration at the result as I have done in the past," Ferdinand said. "Unfortunately a lady was stood by and I accidentally brushed her with my foot.

"I went back to make sure she was OK and apologized profusely."

Chelsea's victory has left the two teams level on points at the top of the Premier League with United ahead on goal difference.

Chelsea's west London neighbor Fulham staged a remarkable recovery to win 3-2 at Manchester City after trailing 0-2, keeping alive its chances of avoiding relegation.

Birmingham was 2-0 up against Liverpool before being held to a 2-2 draw while Bolton Wanderers were leading at Tottenham Hotspur before drawing 1-1. Reading drew 0-0 at Wigan Athletic.

That meant there were no changes in the positions at the bottom with Bolton staying 16th on 33 points followed by Reading (33), Birmingham (32), Fulham (30) and relegated Derby County bottom on 11.

Sunderland ensured its safety by moving on to 39 points after winning 3-2 at home to Middlesbrough, which remained on 36 points.

(Source: Shanghai Daily/ Agencies)