And even if your away fans are close to the home fans, you should be able to celebrate a goal without being pelted with objects.

But hey, Utd players deserve it.

Who is saying the Utd players deserve it?.

I really don't think you can take the moral high ground on this as you have some moronic supporters too (all clubs have).

This problem will continue unfortunately until threats are given to clubs to play games behind closed doors if this problem continues at certain grounds or erect large perspex screens around the playing area.

Obviously I embellished slightly, but LGJM suggesting stewards 'step aside' if away players are celebrating near home fans isn't exactly the smartest idea. If you're giving crap to oppo players all game and yet you can't take stick back if they get one over on you without chucking stuff at them then you shouldn't be at a sports event. Would have been interesting if that moron had slipped through Hart's grasp and Rio chinned him in fear of his own safety.

If Rooney isn't getting a line of stewards to protect him he won't start acting like an idiot to goad rival fans. He only does it because he knows he's protected.

IMO stewards should be putting their bodies on the line for normal crowd related incidents. But they should do absolutely NOTHING when a player wants to act the fool straight to oppo fans.

Sure, a lot of fans give it out but can't take it. And they are the idiots who resort to lobbing coins and risking the eyesight of players (and lots of other people if their aim is off). So players should be professional and not inflame the situation. Or they can keep doing that stupid s**t, take a coin to the eye, get blinded and then bitch about it for the rest of their lives.

So that's why Rooney went straight to the Citeh fans for his first two goals? He knew that the hardcore idiots were down by the United fans, so he's safe to goad the areas well away from United fans?

I know United fans will say that I'm just saying this because it was involving their players, but I also made this argument when Mourinho was sent to the stands in the Carling Cup Final against the scousers. Of course there will have been some scousers who laughed at that and agreed he was just giving it back after taking a lot of abuse that day, but for every one who takes it properly there's going to be someone, probably someone totally pi55ed, who is pushed over the edge and wants to give him a smack over it. Stewards shouldn't have to deal with that when players and managers incite the fans. Everyone knows it's a volatile situation, so sliding on your knees to oppo supporters is just stupid.

It's pretty much impossible to regulate the thousands of supporters to eradicate this from the game. But it is possible to stop players from making things worse. The Man United players responded in the perfect way by winning the game and taking the three points. But goading oppo fans is just asking for trouble.

Not 100% on this but those tickets may be the general sale tickets rather than the season ticket holders. Some of them used to be at Maine Road, don't know about CoM though.

For Rooneys 2nd goal he ran over to Rafael to congratulate him on the assist. Not sure how this is goading the home fans. Maybe in future he should think about the fans reaction, and only score at the end which utd fans are located.

exactly - or on all occasions tuck the ball under his arm after scoring and run straight back to the centre circle a la David Platt ( City one not Corrie one )

I thought that

Anyone blaming the players is an absolute moron and it's not hard to see why.

Is it wrong for a tennis player to celebrate at wimbledon when he knocks out Andy Murray? Could that not be seen as goading fans?

I don't care if football fans are rougher, that is not an excuse. They should still be expected not to resort to fookin violence when they have their precious feelings hurt. It's only sport! So no, Rio didn't have it coming to him, and neither did Rooney, and neither does any player who gets harmed by fans for having the audacity to beat their opposition.

It feels like football is getting worse again for this. The FA really need to get a lid on it.