THE ENGLISH Football Association have written to Hull asking for their version of events in the spitting row surrounding Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas which has overshadowed last night’s FA Cup quarter-final tie at the Emirates Stadium.
Hull boss Phil Brown claims to have witnessed Fabregas – who categorically denies the allegations – spitting at Tigers assistant manager Brian Horton in the tunnel after his side were controversially beaten 2-1 by a late goal from William Gallas, which appeared offside.
Neither referee Mike Riley nor any of the other match officials mentioned anything of such an incident in their report to Soho Square.
The League Managers Association confirmed yesterday that they had been contacted by Horton, adding: “As the incidents fall firmly within the jurisdiction of the Football Association, who are making their investigations in the prescribed manner, neither the LMA nor Brian Horton will be making any further comment at this time”.
Brown, meanwhile, remains unrepentant in the ferocity of his criticism of Fabregas. Speaking to BBC Radio Five Live, the Hull manager said: “The pictures in the national papers verify the aggression he was showing towards players and staff after the game.
“I could go on, but I am not one for crying over spilt milk. I then witnessed him going down the tunnel and turning around and spitting at my assistant manager’s feet.
“Whichever way you want to look at it, he addressed that spitting incident at my assistant manager, who has managed probably 1,200 games in his career.
“I am not going to report it, I am not going tittle-tattling to the FA – if they want to investigate that is their decision, and if Brian Horton wants to take it further he will get the full support of Hull City.”
Even though Fabregas – who is on the verge of a comeback from three months out with a knee injury – was not in the Arsenal playing squad last night and only came onto the pitch to celebrate at full-time, the FA still maintain disciplinary jurisdiction.
However, because the alleged incident was not during normal game time, it would not fall under the ‘fast-track’ system, and so any investigation would seek submissions from all parties involved, as well as any potential television evidence – although if any confrontation occurred in the tunnel, their is unlikely to be any footage.
Fabregas, however, refutes all of the allegations.
“I was on the pitch at the end of the game celebrating with my team-mates, but I promise I did not do anything wrong,” he said. “It was not until half an hour after the game that I heard what Hull were saying about me and it is not something that is easy to accept.
“I understand Hull are angry and frustrated about going out of the FA Cup. But I don’t know why they are saying these things about me because it did not happen. That is the truth.
“I don’t even know who the assistant manager of Hull is or what he looks like. I am told Hull will be making an official complaint to the FA about me.
“Well, I am perfectly relaxed about that. I have nothing to hide.” Aside from the post-match row, Brown was upset about Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger attempting to get Hull players booked for time-wasting.
The visitors – who took the lead through Nick Barmby in the 13th minute before Robin van Persie levelled in the second half – were denied a replay and another chance to secure a Wembley semi-final date with Chelsea when Gallas headed in an equaliser, despite looking offside.
Brown felt Riley “succumbed to local pressure” in the second half after his players were jeered by the home crowd. Those comments could land the Hull manager in hot water with the FA, after implications his team had been cheated.
