A 20-year-old man has been charged with the assault of Manchester City star Jack Grealish.
The alleged incident is said to have occurred after full time at Old Trafford following the scoreless draw between City and Manchester United.
The Daily Mail claims Grealish was coaxed over by a member of the crowd next to the tunnel, only for the alleged slap in the face to take place.
It adds Grealish is not believed to have been seriously injured from the alleged assault.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said: “Alfie Holt, 20, of Haven Drive, Droylsden, has been charged with assault. He will appear at Manchester Magistrates Court.
“This charge relates to an incident which took place at Old Trafford Football Club yesterday.”
Grealish began the contest on the bench but came on in the 74th minute in place of Ilkay Gundogan.
It marked his 29th appearance across all competitions for City and the 11th time he’d come off the bench in a league fixture this season.
The £100million man’s alleged incident with the fan was not the only controversy involving fans at Old Trafford.
Sections of United supporters came under fire from City boss Pep Guardiola over a derogatory chant regarding Phil Foden’s mother.
In footage that has since circulated on social media, some supporters twisted the lyrics to the Etihad chant, ‘Phil Foden, he’s one of our own,’ to reference the star’s mother alongside a vulgar synonym for a promiscuous woman.
Although the 24-year-old appeared to be unfazed by the vile song, Guardiola blasted the unruly supporters in his post-match press conference.
GettyGuardiola tore into United fans who sang a derogatory tune about Foden’s mother[/caption]
“Lack of class – but it’s not United, it’s the people,” he said.
“We are so exposed, people who are on the screen in world football – managers, owners, and football players especially.
“It is honestly I don’t understand in the mind of the people involving the mum of Phil, being involved in that.
“It’s a lack of integrity, class, and they should be ashamed, but it is what it is; it’s happening everywhere, I would say, not just in the UK.”
The derby draw kept City fifth in the Premier League table as they sit on 52 points, one behind fourth-placed Chelsea.
As for United, they moved up to 13th on 38 points.
Ruben Amorim’s side must now shift their attention to the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final against Lyon.
The Red Devils travel to the Groupama Stadium on Thursday.
