Manchester City fans must accept Craig Bellamy was in the wrong, whatever the provocation
While Manchester City had every reason to feel hard done by on Sunday, they cannot try to turn Craig Bellamy's misdemeanour into proof of some sort of anti-Eastlands witch hunt, as more than a few of them seem determined to do.
Whatever the provocation - and from the video evidence, the idea that Bellamy was spat at seems hard to justify - the police were always going to act, as they have already done .
The unofficial code of conduct is that the police tend to allow jurisdiction to remain with the footballing authorities rather than getting involved, as was the case when Jamie Carragher threw a coin back into the crowd at Arsenal - although he was not charged - and Didier Drogba against Burnley last season.
Some City fans seems to have been seduced into thinking the improper conduct charge laid against Emmanuel Adebayor after his provocative goal celebrations against Arsenal was part of an FA-backed Big Four conspiracy, rather than the only appropriate response to his actions.
In the Bellamy case, the fan involved must also be prosecuted and banned from Old Trafford - going onto the pitch during a game is an explicit offence which deserves punishment - but the City striker must also acknowledge his actions were unacceptable as well.
At the same time, maybe United might consider asking Gary Neville whether he feels his behaviour is going too far. I do not know whether Neville did, as Mark Hughes suggested " act like a lunatic " after Michael Owen's winner.
But I did see Neville goading the Spurs fans at White Hart Lane last week and while I am all in favour of a bit of banter, especially when fans feel they have a Divine right to throw insults without any regard for the consequences, maybe Neville should calm it down a bit.
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