Manchester United news: Club set to be hit with fine after causing delay to Tottenham match after coach got stuck

United were late in arriving at White Hart Lane after their coach driver took an alternative route to avoid traffic only to be halted by a low tunnel

Louis van Gaal decided to play Ashley Young as a striker instead of Anthony Martial (Getty)

Manchester United face a fine for arriving late to White Hart Lane in the build-up to their Premier League defeat by Tottenham because their coach was too big to fit in a low tunnel after attempting to avoid traffic with an alternative route.

Kick-off was put back to 16:30 on Sunday because United had not arrived at the ground in time for the scheduled 16:00 due to a road closure on the Severn Sisters Road that leads to the stadium.

While they could do little about the heavy traffic in north London, their coach driver attempted to save time by taking an alternative route to the stadium, only to get stuck at a low-level tunnel that prevented the team coach from making it on time at White Hart Lane.

Premier League rules state that clubs will face a fine of £5,000 if they are up to 15 minutes late when returning to the pitch after half-time, but United could be hit with a larger fine because kick-off had to be delayed more than 15 minutes as a result of their lateness.

Because United’s delay exceeds the 15 minute limit set by the Premier League, the club will need to present its case before the Premier League board under the provisions of Section W of Premier League Rule L.29.2, which states: “Any club which without good reason causes to be delayed either the kick-off of a League Match from the time fixed or the re-start after the interval shall on a second or subsequent occasion within two years of the first such occasion or if in any case the delay exceeds 15 minutes be dealt with under the provisions of Section W of these Rules (disciplinary).”

Matters only got worse for United as they suffered a heavy 3-0 defeat in what was a serious blow to their hopes of finishing in the top four, and leaves them trailing rivals Manchester City by four points with West Ham just a point behind them in sixth.