Oxford United will not be taking police action following remarkable accusations that a member of Sunderland staff 'headbutted' Yellows goalkeeper Jack Stevens.
Karl Robinson - who was also shown a red card for his behaviour following Sunderland's second goal - suggested that officers had been called to the Stadium of Light on Good Friday, after a bust-up at half-time which then continued after the final whistle.
Speaking after the game - Robinson suggested that a member of the Black Cats staff had thrown a headbutt at his goalkeeper Jack Stevens and that he would be pressing charges.
However, Northumbria Police revealed yesterday, April 3, they had not received a call in relation to the incident and Oxford United have since revealed they will not be taking the matter further.
It's not clear whether referee Trevor Kettle included the incident in his post-match report, but it's likely both clubs will face some sort of sanction from the FA as a result of the fallout.
Speaking after the game, Black Cats head coach Lee Johnson said Robinson should be "very careful" with his accusations and said in his post-match interview that the incident was "not worth blowing out of proportion."
Johnson said: "He’s (Robinson) got to be careful, I’ll tell you that.
"When it comes to the narrative of any argument, there are always two sides to any story. Let me tell you, there was a lot of Oxford staff that didn’t come out of it smelling of roses, let’s just say that.
"I didn’t see the first incident (at half-time), but I saw the second one [at full-time] and, for me, it was really stepping over the mark. So, I think there’s a bit of deflection in there from a few people.
“I want to draw a line under it now. For me, it’s a man’s game and we’ll crack on. It’s up to anybody else what they do, but I would be careful throwing out some of the things that I’ve heard."
Oxford boss Robinson said that referee Kettle had not seen the incident at half-time - with the referee and his officials waiting to come down the tunnel.
Speaking after the game, Robinson said: "We have asked the police to come. Their players have seen it, our players have seen it. My player certainly felt it. But for some unknown reason there is no footage. Ironic here, isn't it.
“My goalkeeper, he was headbutted at half time, there was a massive brawl in there.
“I think there was just handbags. I walked in at half time, quite calm. I was calm for large parts of the game."
