Bellamy and Diouf face police probe

Manchester City striker Craig Bellamy is being investigated by Greater Manchester Police after his altercation with a fan during Sunday’s derby defeat at Old Trafford, while the Blackburn striker has been quizzed over accusations of racially abusing a ball boy during Rovers’ 3-0 defeat to Everton. 

Welsh international Bellamy, who scored a brace in his side’s epic 4-3 loss to their arch-rivals, confronted a Manchester United supporter who had invaded the pitch on the final whistle, appearing to shove the already restrained fan in the face. But there has been no official complaint, and Manchester City have pledged to defend Bellamy should he face an FA inquiry. 

“I seem to recall Brian Clough clipping someone around the ear once [after Nottingham Forest's fans had invaded the pitch] and he was lauded as a national hero," said City boss Mark Hughes. "Maybe it will be the same with Craig but I doubt it. I'm sure people will make a nuisance of it." 

There was a further incident involving supporters at Old Trafford, as Hughes confirmed that substitute Javier Garrido was hit by a projectile - seemingly aimed at former United forward Carlos Tevez - from the home section at half-time. "Something came from the crowd but he is OK," Hughes revealed. 

Diouf, meanwhile, is facing the rap after an Everton ball boy lodged an official complaint regarding the insulting language used by the Senegalese international. The former Liverpool player became frustrated when the boy rolled the ball past Diouf and not to him as he went to take a throw-in early in Rovers' 3-0 defeat. 

This heated exchange is far from the first controversy involving the Blackburn forward, who received a fine and Uefa ban for spitting at a Celtic supporter during a Uefa Cup tie in March 2003. In November 2004, while on loan at Bolton, he was charged by police for spitting at Middlesbrough fans, and was banned and fined for spitting at Arjen De Zeeuw during a Bolton game against Portsmouth later that month.