Manchester City launch investigation into claims Sergio Aguero was SPAT at by fan who he lashed out at following Wigan FA Cup loss
Ugly scenes at the end of a memorable night marred Wigan's historic win as they dumped City out of the FA Cup thanks to Will Grigg's strike
MANCHESTER CITY will investigate claims Sergio Aguero was spat at by the fan who he appeared to lash out at after the Premier League side were dumped out of the FA Cup at Wigan.
Aguero was confronted by a fan as hundreds of supporters ran on to the pitch at the DW Stadium.
The striker appeared to lash out at the fan and was then restrained during ugly scenes that marred a memorable night for the League One side.
The 29-year-old Argentine could be in hot water with the FA, who will now pore over the video footage from last night’s game to see if he has a case to answer.
SunSport have been told City chiefs are fully behind their player and will defend Aguero to the hilt if the FA charge him.
Argentinian journalist Jose Alvarez Haya claimed Aguero was spat at by one of the Wigan fans who invaded the pitch at full time.
Haya said on Twitter: “A Wigan fan spat at Aguero and he only defends himself.
“Kun could be sanctioned by the FA? And what happen with the fans inside the pitch?
MADNESS City fans launch hoardings at cops after Cup heartache
“It is normal that a person defends himself when people came with wrong attitude and spitting (at) him?
"Let’s be reasonable.”
By Phil Thomas
The FA have begun an investigation into the post match pitch invasion by Wigan supporters after their stunning Cup shock.
One supporter aimed a swipe at the argentine as he raced past - and Aguero had to be bundled away by City coaches as he went seeking revenge.
FA rules allow them to charge any player with any offence and they have started a review after receiving red Anthony Taylor’s report today.
Yet it seems unthinkable that Aguero would be punished for effectively defending himself against someone who had committed a criminal act by running on in the first place.
Wigan plan to identify the supporter and ban him from future games.
City chiefs plan to talk to Latics counterparts and voice their concerns over how their players’ safety could have been jeopardised.
Yet manager Pep Guardiola is unlikely to be charged following his half time tunnel bust up with Wigan boss Paul Cook.
The two clashed when Fabian Delph was sent off, with Guardiola convinced Cook influenced the official, who changed from an initial yellow card to a red.
Guardiola and Cook had to be separated as they rowed in the tunnel but the FA view that as low level compared to the pitch invasion that sparked crowd trouble between fans
Wigan supporters gathered in front of the North Stand, and City fans hurled advertising hoardings at them, stewards and police.
The FA will seek observations from both clubs as part of their ongoing probe into Monday night’s events.
Will Grigg was the Latics hero with the only only goal of the game, his seventh strike in the FA Cup this season.
That was after City went down to ten men when Fabian Delph was shown a straight red card for his heavy challenge on Max Power just before the interval.