A York City Knights rugby league fan was ejected from his team’s match after an allegation that punches were thrown on the touchline.

The unnamed fan had travelled to Park Lane in north Manchester yesterday to watch the Knights take on Swinton. He was thrown out after allegations were made about an incident involving a spectator and a Swinton player.

Gary Hall, chairman of York City Knights Supporters’ Club, said it had been a “storm in a tea cup” and no punches were thrown.

He said: “The players started a slight melee near the touchline. As I saw it, a Swinton player started flailing his arms about. He knocked a can of Coke out of someone’s hands and then complained that someone had thrown Coke over him. That person was then ejected.”

Peter Taberner, the match commissioner, said an allegation had been made that a spectator had thrown a punch, and also that a player had thrown a punch at spectators. He said the DVD of the game would have to be viewed to confirm this. Knights won the game 48-42.