Minister urges managers to end ‘pantomime’

ALEX FERGUSON and Arsene Wenger are coming under increasing pressure to end their “irresponsible” public war of words ahead of next month’s clash at Highbury.

Police have urged the two managers to calm tensions ahead of the game at Highbury on February 1 for fear of causing unrest among supporters.

And British Sports Minister Richard Caborn has also called on them to end their “pantomime” amid the continuing fall-out from their clash at Old Trafford last October.

While Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein and United chief executive David Gill are due to meet at today’s Premier League shareholder meeting, there is no formal peace summit planned between the managers.

Barry Norman, the Metropolitan Police’s borough commander for Islington, said: “Any activity in the build-up to the game which increases the intensity and hostility of the supporters is not responsible and should be stopped.

“If there is intense rivalry between the two sets of fans, which there is, then anything which increases that is unhelpful.”

Norman, who is in charge of match-day security at Highbury, stressed that police have built up an excellent relationship with Arsenal over the years.

However, he said: “The difference with the United game is simply the intense playing rivalry can permeate into the crowd. People can easily become more agitated and aggressive towards supporters of the other team.”

Caborn, meanwhile, added: “Both of these people are very responsible men and they know when the situation has gone too far.

“Things do get out of hand, so let’s get back to them doing what they do best and that’s managing damn good football teams. We have had the pantomime. Let’s now have the serious stuff - they are two of the best managers in the world and are a credit to English football.”

FA chairman Geoff Thompson had intended to broker a peace summit between the clubs after their last clash at Old Trafford, dubbed ‘the Battle of the Buffet’ after soup and pizza were allegedly thrown at Ferguson.

However, that plan was shrugged aside by both clubs, who believed there was no need for such a meeting as there is a good relationship between Dein and Gill, who have spoken on the telephone since the weekend.

Both men are keen to ensure the issue falls out of the spotlight and there may be quiet words of caution behind the scenes.

After all, Ferguson and Wenger remain the key in the build-up to next month’s game, when some 180 police officers will be on duty at Highbury, double the average number for most Arsenal games.

Caborn joked: “Perhaps I should invite them both around for dinner and put pizza on the menu - but somehow I don’t think they would go for that”