Man Utd and Arsenal to face FA investigation as 'points deduction' incident raised

Manchester United and Arsenal will face an FA investigation after their FA Cup third round clash, it has been claimed.

United won the tie on penalties at the Emirates Stadium following a 1-1 draw after extra time.

Bruno Fernandes had put the visitors ahead on 52 minutes with a curling effort into the right corner, before Arsenal were then awarded a penalty for a contentious foul by Harry Maguire on Kai Havertz.

Altay Bayindir saved Martin Odegaard's spot kick with a superb diving save low to his left, but the Gunners would equalise on 63 minutes through Gabriel Magalhaes.

United were already down to 10 men at that stage after Diogo Dalot was shown a second yellow card, and they held out for a draw before winning the penalty shootout, with Bayindir's stop to deny Havertz in the shootout proving to be the decisive moment.

Now, former Premier League referee Keith Hackett has said that both clubs will be subject to an investigation by the FA due to a mass confrontation during the match.

The incident occurred after United midfielder Manuel Ugarte appeared to headbutt Kai Havertz, before he himself was pushed to the ground by Mikel Merino.

There was another confrontation between a group of players several yards away.

Ugarte didn’t get a straight red for headbutting Havertz ?!!! pic.twitter.com/DDGrK3qTmt

— Septimus Prime🇸🇱 (@septimusajprime) January 12, 2025

And speaking to Football Insider, Hackett says that the brawl will result in an FA investigation - comparing it to an incident he was involved in that resulted in both clubs receiving a points deduction.

That would not happen in this case, of course, as the fixture was played in the FA Cup - and the brawl appears to be far less serious.

He said: "The mass confrontation will be the subject of an investigation," he stated.

"Years ago, I was in the middle of a mass confrontation involving what was a 21-man brawl. I decided not to red card anyone on the basis I might have had more than a handful walking in the direction of the tunnel.

"I submitted a detailed report to the FA, who investigated and both teams were deducted points. I have no doubt that both teams [this time] will be charged for failing to control their players."

Should a team be charged with failing to control their players, the punishment is usually a fine.

Arsenal have accepted several charges and fines in recent years, while, as an indication of a more severe punishment that both sides could receive, United were fined £82,000 for failing to control players during fixtures against Newcastle and Chelsea in 2022.