NINE PEOPLE HAVE been charged with various offences following Sunday’s Manchester derby at the Etihad Stadium.

Six Manchester City fans and three Manchester United supporters are due before Manchester City Magistrates’ Court on January 4 next year.

The home supporter who threw a coin at Rio Ferdinand, however, has not yet been found. The defender was cut above one eye by the missile after celebrating Robin Van Persie’s late goal in United’s 3-2 win.

One City fan has been charged by Greater Manchester Police with a racially aggravated public order offence, while two more have been charged with pitch encroachment.

A further two have been charged with being drunk and disorderly while one has been charged with a section five public order offence.

Of the three United fans, two were charged with breaching a football banning order and another was charged with being drunk and disorderly.

In addition, four other arrests were made on the day. One was summonsed for a racially aggravated public order offence, while another has been released without charge after being arrested for ticket touting.

A woman was cautioned for being drunk and disorderly and a man has been held in police custody on suspicion of possessing a class A drug.

“To have just 13 arrests for a crowd of this size and a match of this proportion is a testament to the policing operation we put in place,” chief inspector Steve Howard said.

“Despite fierce rivalry and high tension there was no major disorder. However, we will continue to investigate the coin throwing incident and are determined to work with the club to bring the perpetrator to justice.”

Meanwhile, the City fan who ran onto the pitch and tried to confront Ferdinand has issued an apology.

Matthew Stott, 21, attempted to square up to Ferdinand but was restrained by Joe Hart and subsequently arrested.

Stott, one of the men charged with pitch encroachment, has released a statement via his solicitors apologising to everyone involved, particularly Ferdinand, and offering remorse for his actions.

“I would like to apologise to all those affected by my actions yesterday, particularly Mr Ferdinand and the other players,” he said.

“I am extremely ashamed of my actions. I have let myself down, my family down, my fellow fans down and Manchester City Football Club.

“I intend to write personally to Mr Ferdinand to express my extreme regret and apologies and also apologise to Manchester United and their fans.  ”I would like to thank Joe Hart for his actions when I came on the pitch.

Martin Rickett/PA Wire/Press Association Images

“I have been a fan of Manchester City Football club all my life and I have been a season ticket holder for three years and I attend the games with my father.

“I have had the same seat in the section next to the away fans for those three years”

Rebecca Caulfield of Stephen Lickrish & Associates, the solicitor representing Stott, added: “Stott is a hardworking man who has held a full time job as a landscape gardener for four years and lives with his partner of five years.

“He has never been to court before and has never been in trouble with any of the stewards at Manchester City Football Club before or at any other ground.

‘Mortified’

“He is extremely remorseful and is mortified by his behaviour which is completely out of character.

“This was a momentary mistake by Mr Stott which has led to him being charged, brought shame on his family, and will bring sanctions on the club that Mr Stott has supported all his life.

“Mr Stott will accept the consequences of his actions. He would like to make clear that he is not the stereotypical drunken football fan but a fan that attends games with his father.

“He is embarrassed and ashamed of his temporary moment of madness that has brought wider consequences on the club he supports and his fellow fans.”

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