Manchester United and Arsenal have been warned they will be the subject of an investigation after an explosive brawl erupted in Sunday's FA Cup clash at the Emirates Stadium.
The heated encounter, ultimately won by United on penalties despite being down to 10 men for over 70 minutes, saw tensions boil over in dramatic fashion.
Referee Andy Madley issued nine yellow cards during the contentious match, including one to Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, as he struggled to maintain control.
The confrontation escalated when Alejandro Garnacho clashed with Kai Havertz, prompting Manuel Ugarte to intervene.
Ugarte appeared to push his head into Havertz, causing the German to fall.
The incident went unnoticed by Madley and was not reviewed due to the absence of VAR in the FA Cup third round. However, former PGMOL chief and FIFA official Keith Hackett predicts consequences for both clubs for failing to control their players.
Hackett drew parallels to a similar situation he encountered during his officiating career, where a 21-player brawl led to severe sanctions, including points deductions after an FA review.
"The mass confrontation, which may have included a headbutt, will undoubtedly be investigated by the Football Association," Hackett told Football Insider.
"In a similar case I officiated, I chose not to issue red cards on the field to avoid chaos but submitted a detailed report to the FA.
"Both teams were subsequently penalized with points deductions.
"There's no doubt both Manchester United and Arsenal will face charges for failing to control their players.
"If VAR had been available, the incident would have been reviewed, potentially altering the match's outcome."
The FA's investigation will determine the consequences for both clubs, with the potential for disciplinary actions looming large.
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