LMA won't intervene in managers' spat

League Managers Association chief John Barnwell has refused to criticise the behaviour of Jose Mourinho and Bryan Robson after the pair’s touchline bust-up at The Hawthorns.

LMA chief executive Barnwell, who stepped in on behalf of his organisation in a bid to end the war of words between Mourinho and Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger earlier this season, does not feel any need to “add fuel” to the incident by condemning the duo.

West Brom manager Robson was furious with his Chelsea counterpart after the Barclays Premiership champions emerged late for the second half of Saturday’s game, and was equally unimpressed by what he saw as play-acting by Blues striker Didier Drogba.

But Barnwell played down the incident and said: “If there is any contact between the LMA and the two managers I will not be making it public. No charges have been brought against either of them so why should I speak to them?

“It’s two grown men having a disagreement at their place of work.

“The fourth official, Howard Webb, has a police background and I thought he handled it very well. He saw no reason to report either manager.”