The Football Association will likely investigate a '17 or 18 man melee' in the St James' Park tunnel midway through Newcastle United's 3-0 win over Aston Villa on Boxing Day. The incident, which happened away from the cameras, saw Magpies assistant Jason Tindall and Aston Villa analyst Victor Manas shown red cards at half-time.

Eddie Howe confirmed the incident after the clearcut win for his side, admitting he wasn't sure why his right-hand man had been punished in the large spat. “I saw plenty. I don't know the actual details of why he [Jason] was sent off, that would need some clarification from me because if you're going to send him off you could probably send 10 to 15 people off,” said Howe.

“I'm not quite sure what he's been charged with. I don't know the players' side of it too much, I was right at the top of the stairs so I don't know what happened behind me. But of course, we're all standing up for each other in that moment and protecting ourselves.”

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The FA will be keen to investigate exactly what unfolded during the clash, with details to be included in referee Anthony Taylor's post-match report. As recently as October, Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis was charged with misconduct following his side's defeat by Fulham on 28 September after 'improper conduct' in the tunnel.

Further punishment could await both sides after Thursday's clash, with Tindall currently set to suffer a one-game touchline ban as Newcastle travel to Old Trafford to face Manchester United on Monday. The Newcastle No 2 was also blocked from attending his team's lap of honour after their Boxing Day success as he sported a custom-made Wham! 'Last Christmas' jumper during the post-match scenes.

Discussing the tunnel melee further, Howe also said: "These things always start out I don't think with the intention of it happening in the way that it did.

"There was probably 17 or 18 people trying to calm it down, but what it looks like then are more people are involved. No-one wants to see that, it's not at all how I want my players or staff to be, but sometimes you have to stand up to what you think is right and protect each other."

Unai Emery launched a thinly-veiled dig at Tindall following the full-time whistle, simply replying "respect always" when the Newcastle staff member was brought up by name in a post-match interview. The Spaniard also spent plenty of time talking about the controversial decision to send Jhon Duran off in the first-half.

That incident, plus another flashpoint at the opposite end of the ground involving Morgan Rogers and Joelinton, led to the tension between Tindall, Emery and other members of the two teams' coaching groups both before and during half-time.