[funkdoctorspock]

More than likely one of the muppet groundskeepers said something to the players when they were warming down and all hell broke loose.

I think the last person you want to piss off is Patrice Evra. He just comes across as crazy in a fight.







some unwatermarked pics would be nice.

Bizarre pitch fracas follows Chelsea match

LONDON, April 26 (Reuters) - Chelsea ground staff and Manchester United players were involved in a bizarre fracas on the pitch in an almost deserted Stamford Bridge stadium after Saturday's Premier League match between the two teams.

None of the United players who played in the match were involved but players Patrice Evra, Gary Neville, Paul Scholes, Gerard Pique and John O'Shea were all warming down when an argument began with the ground staff tending the pitch.

Stewards quickly moved in to separate those involved but after the situation quietened down the row flared up again, although no punches were thrown.

The incident came a few minutes after Chelsea beat Manchester United 2-1 to pull level with United at the top of the table.

ESPNsoccernet - England - Bizarre pitch fracas follows Chelsea match

[dada]

Originally Posted by funkdoctorspock

I think the last person you want to piss off is Patrice Evra. He just comes across as crazy in a fight.

When a guy is running at you like a wild animal with his tongue sticking out thats a slight hint you dont want none of him. Maniacal.

[Torque]

I say well done for fighting back. To hell with those idiot skeepers. Beat the crap out of them!
----------------
EDIT:

Originally Posted by skysports

The Football Association will ask to see 'all details and TV footage' of the post-match bust-up between Manchester United players and Chelsea staff.

Patrice Evra, Gary Neville, Park Ji-Sung and Paul Scholes were warming down after Chelsea's 2-1 victory at Stamford Bridge when a row ensued with the ground staff tending to the pitch.

Chelsea later confirmed that they would be reviewing the relevant footage and taking action wherever appropriate.

FA spokesman Andrin Cooper has now revealed that the matter will be looked into fully.

He 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.

"But we will obviously be asking Chelsea to let us see their CCTV footage of the incident."

Tempers also flared during the match and United defender Rio Ferdinand had to apologise to a steward after accidentally kicking her following Michael Ballack's late penalty winner.

source

[funkdoctorspock]

Well it seems this was all about where these lads should run in relation to how the grounds crew were cutting the grass. Argument, some nasty words and a melee.

I better not read that a United player is suspended or severely fined for this, because it seems that the grounds crew did quite a bit to escalate this incident.

Evra 'racially abused' prior to pitch brawl

Tevez claims grave insult was directed at team-mate
FA launches investigation into fracas at Chelsea

Patrice Evra is alleged to have been racially abused in the moments leading to the violent confrontation between Manchester United's players and a number of Chelsea employees after Saturday's game at Stamford Bridge. Evra has been promised his team-mates' support as the Football Association opens an investigation into the incident.

United will request a copy of the CCTV footage from Chelsea and will study the pictures before making a formal complaint. Evra was punched at least once, ending up with a bruise and a small cut above his eye. The Frenchman has admitted losing his temper but claims he was provoked, an allegation that has been backed by some of the players who were close by. One source close to Evra has told United that a racist comment was made.

"Patrice received a grave insult from a member of Chelsea's staff," Carlos Tevez said last night. "He demanded an explanation and from that moment these men just wanted to attack Patrice. Obviously it's normal that we tried to defend our team-mate but within a few seconds all of the United players were surrounded by stewards.

"I think that the security cameras will show the provocation we received. I have never seen anything like this in my career . . . if the FA opens an investigation, we will cooperate and happily give our version of what happened."

The flashpoint occurred after a group of Sir Alex Ferguson's unused players were asked not to run across the pitch during their 'warm-down' because the grass was being cut. Instead they were told to jog in the same direction as the lawnmowers so the groundstaff could repair the turf ahead of Liverpool's visit on Wednesday for the second leg of their Champions League semi-final. The players refused and it is thought that one of them may have sworn. It was at this point that Evra was allegedly abused and the punch-up began. The two groups were separated but then came together again and Evra had to be restrained by team-mates. Photographs show one Chelsea employee, believed to be a groundsman, with his fist raised.

"Basically, this came about because of the provocation of somebody who works for Chelsea," said Gerard Piqué, another of the players involved. "Patrice wanted an explanation but these men were very aggressive. All we were doing was finishing our work-out after the game. Even now I just do not understand the reaction of these people. I have seen the photos and, if the images are stored in the CCTV cameras, then it will be impossible for them to say that the players were not provoked."

Tevez added: "We noticed a hostile atmosphere during the match. That is normal but never did I believe these incidents would happen afterwards without any spectators in the ground."

The FA has requested the CCTV footage, as well as reports from both clubs. Chelsea say they will comply, their instinct being to follow the FA's guidance on the issue, though they have not yet ruled out lodging a formal complaint over the conduct of United's players. At the end of the match Rio Ferdinand tried to kick a door in the tunnel but connected instead with a female steward, who was left with stud marks down her right shin. While it is understood that she has accepted his apology, and flowers, the incident did not reflect favourably on a player who, a few hours earlier, had emerged as Fabio Capello's preferred choice to captain England.

Ferguson's main concern is the fitness of Wayne Rooney, Nemanja Vidic and Anderson, all of whom had treatment for injuries yesterday, with Rooney in particular a doubt for tomorrow's Champions League semi-final second leg against Barcelona. However, Ferguson will give his version of events today and is likely to back Evra. United were also unimpressed that stewards prevented Sir Bobby Charlton and the chief executive, David Gill, from trying to calm the situation.

Chelsea have yet to comment on the matter but intend to scrutinise the CCTV footage in an attempt to work out what provoked the fracas.

Evra 'racially abused' prior to pitch brawl | Football | The Guardian

and some pics from the incident:

[Torque]

Damn I hate this racists. I remember getting into a fight because of a racist insult. I don't remember towards who was that insult, but I remember breaking his nose.

[JamesRoyale]

no reason for that, i mean chelsea won the match; i dont know what they were trying to achieve.

if i was abromavic, and the CCTV proved man utd right, i would fire those groundsmen/groundsman. im sure he wont be happy with that.

[HunsingerUK]

When I first read about this last week, my fear immediately went to the FA penalizing us by taking points away from us, but since then I've grown less paranoid about this happening.

but I just want to make sure, , the FA can't do that to us, right?

[funkdoctorspock]

UPDATE:

Well the FA has charged Evra with improper conduct for this incident. The groundskeeper has also been charged, with using abusive language aggravated by reference to nationality/race.

As for a suspension/fine/etc. Nothing has been stated.

Patrice Evra has been charged with improper conduct by the Football Association, while Manchester United team-mate Rio Ferdinand has been 'reminded of his responsibilities to the game'.

United full-back Evra has been charged by the FA in relation to an incident at the end of his club's game with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on 26th April.

After the match, several members of United's squad who had not featured in the 2-1 defeat were put through their paces in a training exercise, only to clash with Chelsea's groundstaff.

As a result of the fracas, Evra has been charged with improper conduct along with Chelsea groundsman Sam Bethell, who has also been charged with using abusive language aggravated by reference to nationality/race.
Thorough investigation

An FA statement read: "The charges are the result of a thorough investigation conducted by the FA over the past three months.

"In bringing the charges, the FA used video evidence, CCTV footage and various witness statements from individuals present."

Meanwhile, Red Devils centre-half Ferdinand has been censured by the FA following an incident in the tunnel after the final whistle.

Ferdinand inadvertently kicked a steward and there were suggestions he could face a ban, and possibly be overlooked for the England captaincy.

The FA statement continued: "The FA also investigated a post-match incident involving Rio Ferdinand and a Chelsea steward. No charge has been issued, on the basis that the incident was an accident and an apology had been made.

"In reaching its decision the FA relied largely on evidence provided by the steward in question. However, Ferdinand has been reminded of his responsibilities."

Source

[Prongs]

I don't know what FA is on to charge evra ! Personally if any one calls me an F**king Immigrant , i would murder him !

Evra rightly deserves the appreciation , love and respect for his action from all of us .

[mg91]

I appreciate that Evra was insulted, and that it does look like Chelsea staff were the catalysts for the incident, but from the FA's point of view they;ve got to send a message that abusive language is wrong AND that physical action is the wrong way to go about things.

I know it sounds soft and whatever, and if any of you knew me you'd probably think this was very rich coming from me lol, but i think that is the reasoning behind the FA's decision. I'd be surprised if he was suspended.