Police in Britain are investigating a bottle-throwing incident involving Manchester United goalkeeper Fabien Barthez following Saturday's 1-0 Premier league defeat at Leeds United.

A spokesman for West Yorkshire police said they were investigating claims the Frenchman threw a bottle into the crowd after Harry Kewell scored Leeds's 66th-minute winner at Elland Road.

"There was an incident in the game involving Barthez where he allegedly threw a bottle into the crowd which hit a fan," a police spokesman said. "I can confirm we have been made aware of the incident and are investigating."

Some media reports suggested the United keeper had picked up his plastic water bottle and kicked it through his goal net, where it hit a fan.

A Manchester United spokesman said the club would not be commenting as they had yet to be contacted by the police regarding the claim.

Feelings were running high at the clash between two of English soccer's fiercest rivals, with Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand returning to Elland Road for the first time since his £30 million move in July.

The police spokesman said 11 arrests had been made, mainly outside the ground, and that two police officers received slight injuries which required medical treatment.

"There were 11 arrests during the game for breach of the peace, drunk and disorderly and disorder. There were sporadic outbreaks of disorder away from the ground before and after the match," the spokesman said.

David Beckham, however, is unlikely to face any disciplinary action after using his elbow to hold off a challenge from Lee Bowyer in the match.

Referee Jeff Winter awarded a free kick in Bowyer's favour but did not caution or even speak to the England captain over the incident.

As a result the Football Association are expected to rule that the incident was dealt with and will not pursue the matter.

Only a retrospective admission by Winter either verbally or in his match report that he had misjudged the challenge could trigger FA action.

The controversy over Beckham's action comes in the wake of Roy Keane's sending off for elbowing Jason McAteer during United's match against Sunderland three weeks ago.

United boss Alex Ferguson said he would review the Beckham incident, although he hinted that he did not regard it as serious.

Meanwhile, Keane's team-mate Ryan Giggs yesterday blasted "jealous" critics of his captain.

"Whenever there is controversy involving Keane it's a good excuse for people to lay into him," the Welsh winger said.

"There is a certain amount of jealousy involved. There isn't a team in Europe that wouldn't want him so it's laughable when people have a go just for the sake of it.

"As far as I'm concerned Keane epitomises the strength and passion of Man United, and that's all people here are interested in.

"Keane has never struck me as a dirty player. Fundamentally, he's a winner and anything else is secondary to that,"Giggs added.