10 Controversies & Scandals That Rocked Man Utd
7. Pizzagate
The Battle of the Buffet, The Battle of Old Trafford, Pizzagate. It has been known by several different titles over the years and, call it what you will, was an ignominious moment for United, and for manager Sir Alex Ferguson. To give the controversy some context, Arsenals Invincibles had just been introduced to mortality with United putting to the sword the Gunners 49-game undefeated streak with a 2-0 win at Old Trafford in 2004.
The match was marred by bad officiating, diving claims and a furious bust-up during and after the game both on and off the field. Hostilities started when Wayne Rooney went down under an innocuous Sol Campbell challenge to win his side a penalty, which Ruud van Nistelrooy converted in the 73rd minute. Rooney wrapped up victory in the 90th minute. At full-time, Campbell refused to shake Rooneys hand, and Gunners boss Arsene Wenger called Nistelrooy a cheat as he headed to the dressing room.
A furious Ferguson then came out to confront the Frenchman over his comments, only to be pelted with pizza by Cesc Fabregas. The incident further deepened the rift between the Scot and Wenger, which took five years to heal. Gunners assistant boss Pat Rice stopped having drinks with Ferguson after games in the wake of the incident, a protest that would only end in 2009.