guido
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Joined: Oct 18, 2004
Posts: 381
Location: Italy
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 Posted: Thu Oct 28, 2004 3:27 pm Post subject: Battle of the Buffet Lands Two Teams in the Soup |
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Wed Oct 27,11:26 AM ET
By Bill Barclay
LONDON (Reuters) - Was it pea soup or tomato? A slice of pizza or a round of Old Trafford's much-maligned prawn sandwiches?
Such culinary questions have dominated the aftermath of Sunday's unpalatable Manchester United-Arsenal clash following an alleged tunnel bust-up between United manager Alex Ferguson and unnamed Arsenal players.
Quite which food items were thrown at whom by whom in 'the Battle of the Buffet' or 'Soupgate', as the British press have dubbed it, is now the subject of a Football Association investigation.
What is clear is that Ferguson changed his clothes for a television interview after United's 2-0 win ended the 49-game unbeaten run of league leaders Arsenal.
United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy faces a possible ban after being charged with serious foul play following an ugly-looking tackle on Arsenal's Ashley Cole during the game.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has also been asked to explain comments about the referee, who awarded United a controversial penalty for their first goal, and Van Nistelrooy.
However, the alleged food fight after Arsenal's defeat is the main talking point and the British media have gleefully dipped their bread.
"The running gag yesterday, referring to Arsenal's center-half and United's left-back, was whether the alleged soup was Campbell's or Heinze's," wrote the Independent newspaper.
Food fracas are nothing new in English football - portly players can still expect to be showered with chocolate bars. In the heat of a halftime pep-talk many a manager has taken out his frustration on a tray of sandwiches or tea cups.
United captain Roy Keane famously derided the club's fans for being more interested in their prawn sandwiches than cheering on his team.
The FA will take a dim view of any disorder between English soccer's two biggest clubs after last season's equivalent fixture provoked some of the ugliest on-field scenes of recent years. Several Arsenal players jostled and taunted Van Nistelrooy at the final whistle after he missed a penalty.
Arsenal were eventually fined 175,000 pounds ($321,000) for failing to control their players, four of whom also received bans and additional fines for their behavior.
The reported snack-throwing in the tunnel on Sunday could give the London club more indigestion.
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Ciao, Guido
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