19-04-2010, 08:13 AM
(This post was last modified: 19-04-2010, 08:13 AM by RambleOnRed.)
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- Abdul Diouf not seriously hurt during attack
- Mounted police clash with City fans following defeat
Manchester United's jubilation after a weekend that reinvigorated their title hopes has been tempered by the news that the brother of their striker Mame Biram Diouf was beaten up during a prolonged outbreak of violence after the derby victory against Manchester City.
Quote:Manchester United's jubilation after a weekend that reinvigorated their title hopes has been tempered by the news that the brother of their striker Mame Biram Diouf was beaten up during a prolonged outbreak of violence after the derby victory against Manchester City.
Abdul Diouf, visiting his younger sibling while on holiday from Dakar, was punched and kicked to the ground because he was wearing his brother's shirt from the Carling Cup final, with the player's surname emblazoned above the number 32 – as worn previously by Carlos Tevez.
Witnesses said the 28-year-old was set upon after "walking the wrong way" during large-scale disorder outside the City of Manchester stadium. He was struck several times but did not lose consciousness. "He was attacked from behind by some Manchester City supporters as he was walking away from the ground," Jim Solbakken, Diouf's agent, said. "Fortunately he managed to get away without any bad injuries and he did not need medical treatment."
His attackers were heard shouting "Munich" in reference to the Munich air disaster in 1958 when a plane carrying United's team crashed, killing 23 people including eight of Sir Matt Busby's players.
Diouf, a 22-year-old Senegal international, signed for United from Molde last July but was loaned back to the Norwegian club for the rest of the Tippeligaen season. He moved to Old Trafford in January and scored his first goal a few weeks later in the 3-0 home defeat of Burnley, celebrating with a flip in front of the Stretford End. But he has been only on the fringe of the first-team squad, making five appearances, and was not in contention for the derby because of an injury.
The forward, signed on the recommendation of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after averaging nearly a goal every two games for Molde, is said to be shocked and surprised about Saturday's incident, having not been fully aware of the hostile relationship between the two Manchester clubs. After hearing the details he was described as relieved and thankful that his brother avoided being hurt more seriously than bruises and cuts to his face and body. Sir Alex Ferguson has been informed and is expected to speak to his player today.
He has contacted relatives in Senegal and spoke last night to his younger brother, Mame Mbar, a 19-year-old striker with Molde who is on loan at Sarpsborg 08 in Norway's second division. Diouf about it .
Paul Scholes's winner for United in the third minute of stoppage time took Ferguson's team to within a point of Chelsea with three games to go and set off clashes outside the stadium between mounted police and a large group of City's supporters who were trying to confront the United fans. At the height of the trouble there was an attempt to overturn a police van. One fan was seen throwing horse dung at United's supporters with his bare hands.
During the day the police made 20 arrests, including 10 for public order offences and one for breaching a banning order. When the teams met in the Carling Cup semi-final in January, police searches at the gates led to golf balls and darts being confiscated from the United fans. On this occasion no weapons were found.
Some supporters have questioned why Greater Manchester police allowed the two sets of supporters to leave at the same time, particularly bearing in mind the volatile way the game had ended. Scholes's winner sparked scenes of wild celebration from the United players and, despite being specifically asked beforehand not to do anything that could provoke the crowd, Gary Neville made a point of grabbing the badge on his shirt as he ran in front of the home supporters.
The police have decided to take a tolerant line and will not raise the issue with United, the view being that the celebrations were not excessive. If anything, the police feel the United players helped keep the visiting fans in the stadium by congregating in front of the away section.
