'You are all f*cking sh*t!' - Man Utd coach Darren Fletcher restrained amid foul-mouthed tunnel tirade at referee over Matthijs de Ligt incident

Fletcher has been punished after launching a furious rant at the officials during United's 2-1 win over Brentford last month. The coach received a three-match touchline ban and was fined £7,500 by the Football Association after protesting against referee Samuel Barrott's decision to force a blood-soaked Matthijs de Ligt to leave the pitch to receive treatment, with the Bees scoring from the ensuing corner.

Barrott and fourth official Gavin Ward both bore the brunt of Fletcher's outburst in the tunnel at half-time. The Independent Regulatory Commission has now shared the officials' version of events.

"Following the half-time whistle and as I made my way up the tunnel, I was approached by Darren Fletcher of Manchester United in an extremely aggressive manner pointing and shouting at me 'you are all f*cking sh*t, that is a f*cking joke, every f*cking week,'" Ward told the Commission.

"I asked him to calm down and highlighted that his behaviour was completely unacceptable at this point.

"He then needed to be held back by another member of staff, as he tried to get closer to me. With this, I turned away and continued to make my way to the match officials changing room.

"Once in the changing room and when the other match officials arrived, I made them aware of the conduct of Mr Fletcher."

Reviewing video footage from the tunnel, the Commission noted that Fletcher had become "agitated and starts to remonstrate with the fourth official, gesturing with his hands, shouting, and attempting to get closer to the fourth official in a confrontational manner. He is then held back and pushed away by a Manchester United colleague".

Fletcher served the first of his three-match ban against Leicester City last weekend, but he will miss new head coach Ruben Amorim's first game in charge, against Ipswich on November 24, and the home clash with Everton on December 1.