Hull City v Arsenal: Women's Institute offered apology for bust-up

Premier league: FORGET 'Jam and Jerusalem', it was more a case of boys and brawling for the Women's Institute in Hull after 100 or so members witnessed an amazing bust-up between Jimmy Bullard and Nick Barmby.

The footballers clashed on Monday during a warm-down session 24 hours after the City's 5-1 defeat at Everton.

Witnessed by members of the local WI, who were on their way to a rally on nearby Humber Bridge, Bullard and Barmby had to be pulled apart.

The entire squad were then given a dressing down by manager Phil Brown, who did not witness the incident, back at City's Cottingham training ground.

Both players have not been disciplined and are in the squad to face Arsenal, leaving Brown eager to draw a line under the spat. He said: "I can only apologise to the Women's Institute. I did not realise there was a rally there – apparently 50 to 100 women were going on a march across the Humber Bridge.

"The incident was unsavoury and unfortunate, but the players have settled their differences. They shook hands and are getting on with the job in hand, which is the challenge of the next 10 Premier League games.

"These things happen, but I am not condoning this kind of behaviour. It is an emotive game, a passionate game and obviously emotions do run high, especially when the pressure is cranked up. It is not really a concern of mine and if it was I would tell you so."

The spat has led to concerns a damaging split may have developed in the dressing room ahead of the all-important run-in.

Brown, however, insists that is not the case as Hull prepare to host the title-chasing Gunners in today's tea-time kick-off.

He said: "To say there is disharmony is very unfair. In my playing days, it was a regular occurrence. You are going to get those encounters when players care.

"If you look at one of the players in question, Nicky Barmby, he has been in all the top dressing rooms and will be the first to admit that it happens in the majority of clubs.

"The two players in question are big players for us. If you look at them in training since, they have both been absolutely bang at it. There are no fractures within the camp. This squad is united. It is together. They have shown that since Monday and will show it against Arsenal."