Things just keep getting worse for Manchester United. After Sunday’s kick-off against Tottenham was delayed for half an hour due to their team bus being stuck in traffic, United were thrashed 3-0 by a rampant Spurs side who knocked in three goals in under six minutes.
And now the club is in even more hot water after discovering they will most likely face a disciplinary hearing for delaying the game by half an hour.
According to Premier League rules, if a match is delayed by 15 minutes or less, the club at fault will be fined £5000. But a delay of more than 15 minutes means the team could be required to face a disciplinary hearing. United are expected to present a case to the Premier League, and it’s unknown if they will face any further punishment.
Match delayed after team bus became stuck in traffic
It has been reported that United’s bus driver expected to reach White Hart Lane from the team hotel in around an hour, however, a car accident on the way to the stadium saw the driver take an alternative route.
Unfortunately for the bus driver, the trip was then further delayed when the bus came across a low tunnel which it could not fit through.
United eventually made it to White Hart Lane for the game which kicked off half an hour late at 4.30pm, but United probably wished the bus never arrived at all after a barrage of goals from Dele Alli, Toby Alderweireld and Erik Lamela sealed victory for Spurs and severely damaged United’s hopes of making the top four.
Things didn’t go right from the beginning for Manchester United. Leicester’s win earlier in the day meant Tottenham Hotspur had to win the game to keep up pace with the leaders, while the Red Devils needed a win to stay within touching distance of the top four.
But the game was cagey from the very beginning and neither team managed an attempt on target in the first half. But the deadlock was abruptly ended in the second half when Christian Eriksen sent a perfect pass to Dele Alli who was one-on-one with David De Gea and calmly slotted past him to give Spurs the lead.
Four minutes later, Toby Alderweireld headed in Spurs’ second after a beautiful cross from Lamela to make it 2-0. The winger himself then got on the scoresheet 60 seconds later when he finished wonderfully with a low shot into the bottom corner.
The loss came as a huge blow to United’s top four ambitions as they now trail Manchester City by four points, and we’re sure a disciplinary hearing regarding their tardiness on the way to the match is the last thing the club is thinking about.
