The FA is to investigate allegations that Hull City assistant manager Brian Horton was spat at by injured Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas. The incident, brought to light by Tigers boss Phil Brown, followed a match settled by a controversial winner when William Gallas headed in from an apparently blatant offside position.

 

The match officials have not referred to the incident and obviously did not see it - hardly surprising given the Gallas goal. However, with Brown and his counter-part Arsene Wenger failing to shake hands again, tensions between the two clubs were clearly running high as the dressing rooms approached. Spaniard Fabregas has strenuously denied the allegation but Horton himself stated "I am speaking to the League Managers Association and want to take this further."

Hull were also reportedly unhappy at Fabregas being allowed onto the pitch after the final whistle, dressed ‘inappropriately’ and behaving aggressively towards the Hull players and officials, a line apparently supported by photographic evidence. With his charges slipping dangerously close to the relegation fight, Brown will be hoping that the fall-out from Wednesday night does not adversely affect his squad in their remaining matches.