1990 - the brawl to end them all

13 April 2012

Compared to the 21-man brawl I witnessed at Old Trafford 13 years ago, Sunday's unedifying spectacle at the end of the goalless draw between Manchester United and Arsenal was little more than a playground spat.

Of course, it looked truly awful and, as we all know that television sets the agenda these days, what it looked like is what will count when the wise men of the Football Association assess the damage and hand out the punishments.

The clubs enjoy the benefits of their fat contracts with the TV companies, but they also have to live with the consequences.

The video evidence, along with the report of referee Steve Bennett, will form the cornerstone of the case against the players involved in the pushing and shoving on Sunday.

It was unacceptable behaviour but before the FA start thinking about deducting points they should compare the evidence with what happened in October 1990, after Anders Limpar had scored the winning goal for Arsenal in a fractious match at Old Trafford.

Midway through the second half, fighting broke out between the players after a clash between Limpar and United full-back Denis Irwin. I remember Nigel Winterburn setting the tone by ploughing into the melee with a waist-high, scything tackle.

As many as three players from each team could have been sent off by referee Keith Hackett, who simply couldn't keep up with what was happening. Irwin and Brian McClair kicked out at opponents and Paul Ince dived on Limpar. Winterburn, Limpar and Paul Davis were the main skirmishers on the Arsenal side. The fighting lasted 20 seconds and 21 players were involved. Only Arsenal goalkeeper David Seaman was not involved.

When Hackett finally restored order he cautioned two players - Winterburn and Limpar. The fact that the match had been broadcast to 64 countries guaranteed a swift response from the FA. Both clubs were charged with bringing the game into disrepute and failing to control their players.

Arsenal knew they would bear the brunt of any FA punishment because they had been involved in a similar incident against Norwich the previous season. Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood swiftly acknowledged that what had happened at Old Trafford was unacceptable. In an unprecedented move, the board fined the manager, George Graham, and five players - Winterburn, Davis, Limpar, David Rocastle and Michael Thomas - two weeks' wages. United fined three unnamed players.

If Arsenal hoped their decisive action would forestall a points deduction by the FA, they were wrong. Urged on by UEFA, the FA summoned Hackett and officials from Arsenal and United. After three hours of deliberation they announced £50,000 fines for both clubs with Arsenal docked two points and United one. At the time I wrote that the decision by the FA punished the innocent along with the guilty and meant that the Championship could be decided in the committee room rather than on the pitch.

Arsenal accepted the FA's decision, refusing to appeal, and despite the two-point deduction, went on to win the title by seven points.

This time Arsenal should be spared a points deduction but the suspension of the players involved is necessary.

I hope, too, that they can again accept the FA decision with good grace - something that was sadly absent at Old Trafford on Sunday.

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1990 - the brawl to end them all

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