Got Some Soup?

Of all the weighty questions facing the Football Association today, by far the most important is: who threw the soup at Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson?

All the main suspects went to ground this morning, refusing to own up to the offence - or even clarify the flavour. First reports suggested pea soup, but tomato has not been ruled out, and there have even been suggestions that Ferguson was actually hit by something a lot more solid ... like a sandwich.

As yet United's manager - normally happy to accuse Arsenal of most things - has not entered football's hottest debate, which was sparked by his unexpected change of clothes before sunday's post-match television interview.

The usual suspects


Sol Campbell

Suspicion immediately falls on him because he shares a surname with a Soup Company. And his blood would have been brought to the boil following the penalty awarded for his mistimed tackle on Wayne Rooney. Campbell rarely loses his temper but a carton of steaming broth coupled with the sight of Fergie in his puffa jacket might have been too hard to resist.

Gabriel Heinze

With a surname like Heinz, there are 57 reasons why he cannot be ignored. As a newcomer to Old Trafford, the Argentinian might not be fully aware of Fergie's famous short temper. Perhaps he thought it was traditional in English football to mark a famous victory by anointing his manager. But surely he would have chosen beef.