NEWCASTLE hero Joelinton appeared to invite Manchester United rival Manuel Ugarte for a tunnel fight in a “crazy” flare-up.
Brazilian Joelinton was being taken off in the Toon’s 4-1 home win when he clashed on the field with his Uruguayan counterpart.
Ironically, stand-in Newcastle boss Jason Tindall was taking the attacker off late on to help him avoid a booking and a ban.
But Joelinton looked furious as he argued with Ugarte, confronted him and was held back by two team-mates.
It seemed the 28-year-old “offered to scrap” the ex-PSG anchorman.
Joelinton gestured to the tunnel and pointed to Ugarte as if urging him there to sort it out afterwards.
Newcastle fans will be relieved that their exciting wideman avoided a yellow card in the skirmish.
That’s because he was just one booking short of a two-game suspension.
And Tindall was no doubt delighted to get Joelinton off the pitch before the matter could escalate again.
Newcastle were already 4-1 up at the time and certain to leapfrog Manchester City back into fourth spot.
Joelinton was involved in the killer fourth goal by compatriot Bruno Guimaraes, although the main source was a terrible pass from United keeper Altay Bayindir.
Two-goal Harvey Barnes had earlier been the Magpies’ surprise second-half matchwinner, punishing the Red Devils’ dozy defending.
Before the interval, United winger Alejandro Garnacho cancelled out Sandro Tonali’s opener.
Joelinton making it off without seeing yellow completed a near-perfect day for Newcastle, whose manager Eddie Howe was still too unwell to attend.
But viewers were still unhappy with the Toon raider.
One claimed: “Joelinton should’ve received a red card for inciting violence.”
Another posted: “Why would he say that kind of thing?”
And a third said it would have been “crazy” had Ugarte responded.
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