FA and clubs view Stamford Bridge row film

LONDON, England -- The Football Association and both clubs are to examine CCTV footage of a clash between some of Chelsea's ground staff and Manchester United players after Saturday's Premier League match at Stamford Bridge.

United have also asked to see the film evidence and the English FA will also be investigating.

FA spokesman Andrian Cooper said: "This will have nothing to do with the referee's report. He would have been in his dressing room a long way from the incident

"But we will obviously be asking Chelsea to let us see their CCTV footage of the incident."

The row erupted when some United players were asked to move off the pitch by the ground staff as they were warming down after their controversial 2-1 defeat.

Patrice Evra, Gary Neville, Ji-Sung Park and Paul Scholes were warming down when they were asked to move off and tempers became frayed.

United's England defender Rio Ferdinand also apologized to a female steward after accidentally kicking her when he lashed out at a brick wall when leaving the pitch.

"Unfortunately a lady was stood by and I accidentally brushed her with my foot. I apologized profusely and went back to make sure she was OK," he explained.

"I have arranged for a bouquet of flowers to be sent to her. Credit to her, she laughed it off and was very understanding. She said she wasn't hurt."

United had left the pitch full of indignation after a late penalty had enabled Chelsea to score their winner which put them level on points with United at the top of the table.

Now United have other immediate problems to cope with as they approach the second leg of their Champions League semifinal against Barcelona on Tuesday.

Defender Nemanja Vidic and striker Wayne Rooney were both forced off with injuries at Stamford Bridge. Vidic was carried off after being hit in the face when challenged by Didier Drogba and Rooney hobbled off shortly after scoring United's equalizer.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said: "Vidic has a few stitches under his lip and and he's lost a tooth.

"He was dazed rather than concussed but if we'd waited for him to come round we would have played 10 or 15 minutes with 10 men and you can't afford that in such a big game. So we had to take him off.

"Rooney's got the same knock as he got last week, straight on the hip bone. It takes a while for that to clear because when you get a bang on it it's very painful. I'm hopeful he'll be all right for Tuesday."

Ferguson acknowledged that his side were outplayed in the first half but was bitter about the penalty awarded when the ball struck Michael Carrick's hand, which could cost his side the championship.

"In fairness, Chelsea were the better team in the first half. Sometimes, coming out of a European game, it takes a while to get it right. Unfortunately, it didn't happen for us. But if we're not getting the decisions we deserve then we're going to have to perform really well.

"The penalty was absolutely diabolical. It is a major decision. Granted, it hit his hand. But he has not lifted his hand above his shoulders, above his head, anything like that.

"It is going straight to Rio Ferdinand. The referee should have seen that rather than the linesman. If we're not going to get those decisions then we are under pressure," added Ferguson. E-mail to a friend