During the period of arrests, the sometimes daily disappearance into custody of another Chinese Football Association (CFA) official, club manager, referee or player was heralded only by ominous press reports noting that "X has not answered his phone for two days" or "Y was not seen at training on Monday".

BBC: Business

An FA spokesman said it would liaise with Greater Manchester Police and await reports from its crowd control adviser and the match referee.

BBC: Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand hurt by thrown coin