Soccer Extreme : The Football Association is to study referee Martin Atkinson's match report on Tuesday morning and it is understood that disciplinary chiefs are ready to consider all options available should Atkinson's observations and video evidence warrant a charge of violent conduct for the City forward. United captain Gary Neville, fined £5,000 and warned as to his future conduct for celebrating a goal in front of Liverpool supporters at Old Trafford in 2006, could be charged with improper conduct and issued with a one-game suspension for appearing to goad the City supporters following Michael Owen's injury-time winner.
The fall-out from the 152nd Manchester derby will also involve an investigation into a coin-throwing incident that resulted in City defender Javier Garrido being struck on the head while walking towards the players' tunnel at half-time. An FA spokesman said: "We are at an investigatory stage. We have received the referee's report and are gathering evidence."
Any charge against Bellamy will be contested by City, who are without the services of £25 million forward Emmanuel Adebayor due to a three-match suspension for raking his studs down the face of Arsenal's Robin van Persie. Adebayor could receive a further ban if found guilty of improper conduct following his goal celebration in front of the Arsenal supporters.
Greater Manchester Police is investigating the incident involving Bellamy, although it has yet to receive a complaint against the Wales international.
City assistant manager Mark Bowen defended Bellamy, claiming the striker only pushed the fan because he feared he was going to be spat at. “Craig was going to the fella to say 'get off the pitch’,” Bowen said. “He went up to the fella and thought he was going to spit in his face. They came really close. The fella moved towards him and Craig, with an open hand, pushed him away.”
United have confirmed that the supporter who entered the pitch will be banned for life from Old Trafford, but attempts to identify the coin-thrower have so far proved unsuccessful, despite the aid of CCTV footage.
Spanish defender Garrido has accused United of inflaming the hostility between the two clubs prior to the game. He said: "I think it was a fan of United who threw the coin, but I don't know why. Manchester City have not provoked any of this controversy and United have created a climate of hostililty against us.
"We have received insults on the bench throughout the match, but I never would have thought that situations like this would happen in a stadium like Old Trafford. Really, it's very sad.
"I have been in England for two seasons and this was the match with more fanaticism than any other. I know other derbies, but this atmosphere was incredible with insults flying as soon as we arrived at the stadium.
"I don't know about the motives, but it is certain that during the half-time I was hit by a coin in the head when I was just walking calmly down the tunnel. I believe that the target was Carlos Tévez, but I was standing next to him at the time.
"This was viewed by Manchester United staff but nobody offered any kind of reason. It's incredible that this could take place at Old Trafford, one of the biggest stadiums in the world."
Greater Manchester Police has confirmed that a man has been charged with going onto a playing area without lawful authority or excuse. He will appear before Trafford magistrates on Sept 30. (telegraph)