Anthony Elanga: FA investigates after Man Utd striker hit by object

Anthony Elanga recovered to seal victory for Manchester United

The Football Association is investigating after Manchester United's Anthony Elanga was struck by an object thrown from the crowd in Sunday's Premier League victory at Leeds United.

Elanga, 19, was hit by a missile as the visitors celebrated Fred's 70th-minute goal in the 4-2 win at Elland Road.

There were also numerous unsavoury chants from both sets of supporters.

West Yorkshire Police said a total of nine arrests were made for offences which include the throwing of missiles.

Leeds said they are reviewing CCTV footage to identify those causing trouble and will impose lifetime bans on any supporter found to have thrown objects towards the pitch.

While there was "no significant disorder" and no injuries were reported to any players or fans, the police said offences "including public order, throwing of missiles and breach of banning order" took place.

A group of 70 away fans turned up in Leeds without tickets and were issued with dispersal notices prior to the match.

In what was the first league game in front of fans between the two old rivals at Elland Road since October 2003, Elanga scored his side's fourth goal with two minutes remaining to confirm victory for Ralf Rangnick's men.

Elanga needed to be attended to after being hit by missiles thrown from the crowd

Arrests at football matches across the top five English leagues are at their highest levels in years, with fan disorder "getting worse", according to the UK's football policing lead.

There were more than 800 football-related arrests in the first six months of the season and more than 750 reported incidents of disorder.

It follows Baroness Casey's recent report into the Euro 2020 final violence, which found "ticketless, drunken and drugged-up thugs" could have caused death as they stormed Wembley.

The Premier League and English Football League have asked clubs to suggest ways to tackle anti-social behaviour.

Football disorder in 2022

January

• Five arrests made after FA Cup third-round tie between Crystal Palace and Millwall.

• Fan charged with assault after Lucas Digne and Matty Cash are hit by a plastic bottle as they celebrated Aston Villa's winning goal at Everton.

• Two fans arrested after Chelsea's Antonio Rudiger is hit by missiles thrown from the crowd in their home win over Tottenham.

• Drone stops play at Brentford during a defeat by Wolves.

• End of Manchester City's draw at Southampton is marred as fans run on to the pitch.

February

• A man is arrested following an incident in which a fan ran on to the pitch as Nottingham Forest players celebrated their third goal in a 4-1 FA Cup win over local rivals Leicester City.

• Merseyside Police use pepper spray towards Leeds fans at Everton game.

"As far as I know, there is some investigation going on from Leeds United. I don't think that anything happened in the end," said Manchester United's interim manager Rangnick.

"Elanga looked well and he was happy about scoring his goal. Obviously things like that should not happen and I think even more so this game. The atmosphere was great."

Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa said he did not see the incidents involving objects being thrown, but condemned such actions.

"Any excess other than sporting should not be approved," he said. "I can't evaluate what you spoke about because I didn't see it."

'Vicious atmosphere at Elland Road'

Chief football writer Phil McNulty

Elland Road had waited 19 years to stage a league game between Leeds United and Manchester United in front of fans and the poison contained in this bitter rivalry boiled over in a vicious atmosphere.

There was a heavy police presence around the stadium before, during and after the game, as well as in Leeds city centre hours after the game, such is the scale of hostility between the two sets of fans.

Inside Elland Road, the tone was set from the moment Manchester United's players came out to warm-up to chants of "scum" - but this a very mild message when compared with some of the truly vile verbal exchanges from opposing supporters throughout the game.

Manchester United's goals were the fuse for some of the worst excesses, with captain Harry Maguire and celebrating players being shepherded away from in front of the Don Revie Stand and angry Leeds fans after his opener.

Visiting supporters released red pyrotechnics, leaving the smell of fireworks hanging heavy in the air, but it was the last two goals scored by Ralf Rangnick's side that saw his players in physical danger as they were pelted with missiles.

Anthony Elanga needed medical treatment after Fred put Manchester United back in front at 3-2, with similar treatment meted out after the substitute, recovered after being struck, added the fourth himself.

The game itself was a classic played out in a deluge - which was so torrential and persistent it may have actually reduced the possibility of further trouble around Elland Road - but the atmosphere inside the stadium and the actions of supporters has now inevitably led to a full investigation.

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