Robert in bust-up with Chronicle's Oliver

By Peter Donnelly
December 30 2002

An angry Laurent Robert physically confronted The Evening Chronicle's Alan Oliver on Sunday afternoon, the winger apparently unhappy with what Oliver and his co-worker, John Gibson, have written about the Frenchman.

It probably all started after Newcastle's UEFA Champions League match with Barcelona, when Oliver gave Robert 3/10 in his Chronicle match report afterwards.

And it appears that he also gave the same rating to the winger after Newcastle's recent game with Bolton.

Also, John Gibson, the Chronicle's other sports writer, recently wrote an article on the Frenchman, questioning his attitude and commitment towards the club.

This obviously sparked fury among the Robert camp and straight after the Spurs match on Sunday, Laurent stormed into Newcastle's press room, still in his shorts and socks with only a vest on, and physically attacked Oliver.

Robert pushed the journalist against the wall and apparently threw a punch, but missed, largely through the presence of Kieron Dyer and Lomana LuaLua who had to pull the Frenchman away, along with fellow Journalist's.

This outburst has been reported to Sir Bobby Robson and United chairman Freddy Sheperd, who is abroad at this moment in time. Sheperd is due to have a meeting with Robert when he gets back to Tyneside.

Alan Oliver in the meantime has stated he is willing to shake hands with the former PSG star but has also branded his actions "unacceptable".