Former Manchester United manager David Moyes is reportedly facing a police enquiry for an alleged assault on a man outside a bar in Lancashire, England on 21 May around 10 pm local time.
The 51-year-old Scotsman, who was recently sacked by the Red Devils after a series of poor results that saw United finish seventh in the Premier League, is believed to have been enjoying a meal with former chairman of Preston North End Derek Shaw and another male friend at the Emporium wine bar in Clitheroe when the alleged incident took place.
The local police are currently reviewing the CCTV footages from the bar as well as questioning people who witnessed the incident.
"Police are investigating a report of an assault at the Emporium wine bar in Clitheroe. Officers attended the bar at about 10pm yesterday (Wednesday, 21 May) and it was reported that a 23-year-old local man had been assaulted by a 51-year-old man. He did not require hospital treatment," the Lancashire Police said in a statement.
"Enquiries are ongoing and we are speaking to a number of people to try to establish the circumstances. There are a number of differing accounts which we need to work through to try to establish exactly what has happened. No-one has been arrested at this stage."
According to reports, the alleged victim Joshua, 23, claimed he was knocked to the floor by three blows from Moyes after he had just asked if he could shake the Scot's hands.
After the alleged attack Joshua reportedly made his way home by train to Ribchester before being taken to the Royal Blackburn Hospital.
Later Joshua's brother Oliver, 24, who drove him to the hospital, accused Moyes of assaulting his brother.
"Joshua was in the bar catching up with a friend when they noticed David Moyes there. He said, 'Hello David, what are you doing round here?' David took offence and told him to f*** off and hit him on the back of the head with a punch which took him to the floor," the Mirror quoted Oliver as saying.
"The police were on the scene within a matter of minutes. There were lots of witnesses and CCTV from the bar. The police interviewed Joshua at the scene, took a statement and left him to his own devices to make his way to hospital. He is concussed, very sick and has some swelling to the back of the head. The Emporium is a very nice place – there's never any trouble there."
However, a friend of Moyes, who was present when the alleged incident took place, narrated a different version of events, claiming that Scot only grabbed Joshua by the lapels after the 23-year-old along with a friend started abusing him.
"David had a meal with two friends and afterwards, at about 9.30 pm, they were both walking past a bar when two lads started giving David abuse about Manchester United. David grabbed one of them by his lapels, but didn't hit him," the Mirror quoted him as saying.
"A police car happened to be parked opposite, so they were on the scene very quickly and no one was arrested or cautioned."