A quartet of Manchester United players, including club captain Roy Keane and Gary Neville, are to be warned by Merseyside Police following their behaviour in their victory at Everton earlier this month.
Officers intend to visit United's Carrington training complex to speak to Keane, Neville, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Cristiano Ronaldo to discuss their conduct. Everton received over 100 written complaints, passed on to the authorities yesterday, regarding the players' behaviour following the Dutchman's late winner in the 4-3 success at Goodison Park.
That number of complaints is considered to be exceptionally high, with police saying: "Having had an opportunity to study all the available evidence and to collate the information from supporters, police officers and the stewards who were on duty, Merseyside Police will be seeking to meet with the team management of Manchester United to discuss the conduct of their players on the day of the match."
Keane is alleged to have gesticulated and verbally abused home fans seated in the main stand's family enclosure as he celebrated with Van Nistelrooy, with similar accusations made against Neville and Ronaldo by supporters in the Paddock on the opposite side of the pitch.
The police are to offer a gentle warning to the players in question, with further action from the English FA unlikely.
Meanwhile, Keane offered a timely defence of his much-criticised team-mate Wes Brown last night with United reeling after Mikael Silvestre was ruled out for up to three weeks with an ankle ligament injury.
The France defender was hurt in a tackle by Leeds's Alan Smith during Saturday's 1-1 draw and will miss up to five matches. Brown, error-prone since returning from a long-term knee injury, is likely to deputise despite a lack of confidence.
"It is hard for any player to come back and play well after that type of injury, but it's even worse for Wes because he is in a specialist position," said Keane, who could be asked to play in central defence against Porto in tomorrow's Champions League first leg tie.
"In midfield you can make mistakes and there are always other people behind you and around you to cover and help you out," Keane added. "In other words, you can get away with it, but if you are at centre-half and you are not at the races then you just cannot get away with anything. At the moment the players around Wes have to help him, and that includes myself."
Brown, capped seven times by England, returned for United at the turn of the year and his shaky form has highlighted the Premiership champions' problems since Rio Ferdinand began his suspension for failing to take a drugs test. United have conceded eight goals in the three league games Brown has started this season, with John O'Shea and Quinton Fortune proving equally suspect in recent weeks.
Ferguson is still likely to call on this trio, with Gary Neville at right-back, against Porto after admitting it was "a big blow" to lose Silvestre against Leeds. Yet, with Neville due to sit out a three-match ban, Brown will have an integral role to play.
"He has missed almost three years of football," said Ferguson. "But there have been genuine signs that he is getting there and in a couple of games he will be back to his best."
Van Nistelrooy says United have missed David Beckham this season. "I think he's missed here as a player and as a person," said the Dutch striker. "From what I see of him he is doing really well and it's a credit to him. With the language barrier, it wasn't easy for him to move to Spain, but he's putting in some great performances."
