Tameside man charged with slapping Jack Grealish

A man who allegedly slapped Jack Grealish at the end of Sunday’s Manchester derby has been charged with assault.

Alfie Holt, 20, of Haven Drive in Droylsden, was arrested following the game when a fan coaxed the Manchester City attacker towards the edge of the Old Trafford tunnel where the supposed slap took place. 

Holt will appear at Manchester Magistrates’ Court at a later date. 

Grealish came on as a second half substitute in the tepid goalless draw and isn’t thought to have been hurt in the incident. 

Manchester United fans also drew the ire of Blues boss Pep Guardiola, who accused them of showing a “lack of class” after derogatory chants about Phil Foden’s mum. 

"Lack of class,” Guardiola said post-match. “But it's not United, it's the people. 

"We are so exposed, people who are on the screen in world football: managers, owners, and football players especially. 

"It is honestly I don't understand in the mind of the people involving the mum of Phil, being involved in that. 

"It’s a lack of integrity, class, and they should be ashamed, but it is what it is 

“It's happening everywhere, I would say, not just in the UK." 

The 0-0 left City in a scramble for the Champions League places, one point behind fourth-place Chelsea, with the four-time reigning Premier League champions trailing this season’s surprise package Nottingham Forest – who are third - by five points. 

United, meanwhile, continue to languish in mid-table, 14 points behind City.