As the players left the pitch, Boateng was seen to spit at the feet of Jonathan Woodgate and Barmby, with the Dutchman claiming it was provoked by a racial slur from the latter.

His actions sparked a 12-man scuffle as players from both sides pushed and jostled one another, with Leeds duo Lucas Radebe and Eirik Bakke needing to be restrained.

It was a feud, though, which continued in the tunnel where Barmby alleges he was scratched across his face by Boateng.

The England international, sporting two gashes on his right cheek, was yesterday forced to go public in an attempt to clear his name, vehemently refuting Boateng’s allegation of racism and stating he had been left “devastated” by such an accusation.

Unsurprisingly, the FA have taken a dim view of such unsavoury incidents and have now decided to launch an inquiry, taking into account the match officials’ reports, along with video evidence.

Although match referee Rob Styles has apparently stated nothing which followed after his final whistle has been included in his final report, the match assessor did witness events, which included Boateng manhandling assistant referee Chris Bassindale in his attempt to confront Barmby.

Boateng’s agent, Barry Silkman, has since jumped to the defence of his player, as well as accusing Barmby of exacerbating the situation with his hastily-arranged press conference yesterday.

“George has been quoted out of context,” stated Silkman, with regard to the racist accusation against Barmby. “No-one has actually heard him say that. It was just a quote that has come from somewhere.

“It did come as a bolt out of the blue that Nick Barmby had this press conference. I think it was Nick Barmby, rather than Leeds, who had the press conference.

“It has been blown up, I think, out of all proportion, mainly by Nicky Barmby having this press conference which has now taken it to another level.”

When asked how Barmby came by the scratch marks, speaking on Sky Sports News, Silkman added: “There was a lot of pushing and a lot of shoving at the end of the game and in the tunnel, but George is not that type of person.

“He is a very religious guy, a nice man, a family man with his wife about to have a baby in a couple of weeks’ time.

“He is not the type of person who goes out and fights with people, who swears and spits at people. He’s not a person who will go round scratching someone.

“I think something went on on the pitch, but I don’t think it’s as major as everyone is making out. There’s so many things happen in the game. I played for 15 years and people say things and shout things at each other during a course of a game that is blown up.

“There are things which are said in the tunnel. People are very hot and they lose their temper, but it’s nothing that cannot be sorted out with a little bit of common sense from all sides.

“In the next couple of days as developments unfold people will realise this has got blown up into something it shouldn’t have got blown up into. It’s something we want to put to bed sooner rather than later.”

Silkman has even gone so far as to suggest Boateng will be cleared by the FA, despite the spitting row and the fact he could be charged with ‘technical assault’ on Bassindale.

“Hopefully, within the next day or two, it will have all calmed down,” added Silkman.

“The FA will be happy with everything that’s said by all parties and everyone can get on with what they do best which is playing football rather than arguing about things off the pitch.

“I don’t think he (Boateng) will be in trouble over it. I’m confident he will walk away from this with his head held high.”