HARTSON IN TUNNEL CONTROVERSY

WIMBLEDON striker John Hartson has become involved in further controversy following his dismissal at Bradford City on Sunday, after it was claimed that he sparked a scuffle in the tunnel before the game had even started.

Bradford defender Gunnar Halle has claimed that Hartson, in an attempt to intimidate City, and in particular captain Stuart McCall, almost sparked a brawl and was threatened with being sent-off by referee Jeff Winter before the game had started.

Winter dismissed the fiery Welsh international in the second half (pictured) for foul and abusive language towards one of his assistants but Halle said: "Hartson was pretty wild and there was a bit of a scuffle in the tunnel just before the game as we were lining up.

"He was trying to wind everybody up and he had a go at Stuart. He started it when he went up to Stuart's face and then he raised his knee into his stomach and then everybody got involved. The referee had to wade in and sort it all out.

"I don't think it did Hartson any good, because the referee was after him straight away, before the game had even started."

It is claimed that Hartson was questioning the commitment of his Bradford counterparts, saying: "You don't fancy it - you haven't got the bottle."

The FA will now await Winter's report before taking further action against Hartson, who will already face an automatic ban for the red card, and could face subsequent censure over an obscene gesture made towards the referee as he left the field.