The Football Association is investigating after Manchester United’s Anthony Elanga was struck by an object thrown from the crowd in Sunday’s Premier League victory at Leeds United.
Elanga, 19, was hit by a missile as the visitors celebrated Fred’s 70th-minute goal in the 4-2 win at Elland Road.
There were also numerous unsavoury chants from both sets of supporters.
West Yorkshire Police said a total of nine arrests were made for offences which include the throwing of missiles.
Leeds said they are reviewing CCTV footage to identify those causing trouble and will impose lifetime bans on any supporter found to have thrown objects towards the pitch.
While there was “no significant disorder” and no injuries were reported to any players or fans, the police said offences “including public order, throwing of missiles and breach of banning order” took place.
A group of 70 away fans turned up in Leeds without tickets and were issued with dispersal notices prior to the match.
In what was the first game in front of fans between the two old rivals at Elland Road since October 2003, Elanga scored his side’s fourth goal with two minutes remaining to confirm victory for Ralf Rangnick’s men.
Arrests at football matches across the top five English leagues are at their highest levels in years, with fan disorder “getting worse”, according to the UK’s football policing lead.
There were more than 800 football-related arrests in the first six months of the season and more than 750 reported incidents of disorder.
It follows Baroness Casey’s recent report into the Euro 2020 final violence, which found “ticketless, drunken and drugged-up thugs” could have caused death as they stormed Wembley.
The Premier League and English Football League have asked clubs to suggest ways to tackle anti-social behaviour.
Source: BBC
