HANDBAGS

The tension between Ruud van Nistelrooy and Patrick Vieira, after the Frenchman's controversial sending off against Manchester United on Sunday, boiled over into a second explosive row between the two men in the Old Trafford tunnel, which forced teammates of both players to intervene.

The Football Association will investigate claims that the pair had to be restrained from confronting each other after the game.

The Arsenal captain had waited to talk to the Dutchman at the end only for the striker to stride past him.

Some 25 minutes later Van Nistelrooy emerged from the home dressing room willing to talk to his opponent, only for Vieira to refuse to speak to him and continue talking to Robert Pires and United's Eric Djemba-Djemba and Fabien Barthez.

"I'm not a cheat," said Van Nistelrooy. "Really? So I touched you then, did I?" retorted Vieira, only for the United striker to sneer: "You have no class."

That comment enraged the French international to such an extent that he had to be held back by colleagues as he shouted: "If you come any closer I'll smack you and put you down properly this time."