A man has been charged with assault after allegedly slapping Manchester City midfielder Jack Grealish after Sunday’s Manchester Derby.
Following the game, Grealish, 29, was confronted as he made his way off the pitch at Old Trafford.
Greater Manchester Police has confirmed in a statement that 20-year-old that Alfie Holt will appear at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on July 14 after being arrested and then charegd with assault.
“This charge relates to an incident which took place at Old Trafford Football Club (on Sunday),” GMP added.
When approached by The Athletic, United and City declined to comment on the incident due to it being a live police investigation. United always cooperate with police enquiries related to alleged incidents at Old Trafford.
This is not the first time that Grealish has been targeted by fans. While playing for his former side Aston Villa, the England international was punched on the pitch from behind during the first-half of a derby match against local rivals Birmingham City in March 2019.
Paul Mitchell was consequently arrested, charged and served three and a half months in prison for the assault.
The then 23-year-old Grealish scored the winner in that 1-0 victory and described it as the “best day of his life” in a post-match interview.
(Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)