Thatcher faces second elbow probe

Thatcher faces the FA next week

Manchester City defender Ben Thatcher is being investigated by police for another on-field incident.

The Lancashire force says it is looking into a complaint from Ralph Welch, who has accused Thatcher of elbowing him in a reserve team game in February.

The 19-year-old ex-Blackburn player was reportedly left with facial injuries.

Thatcher was banned six games and fined £120,000 by his club after a forearm challenge on Pedro Mendes in August left the Portsmouth star unconscious.

Interview: Portsmouth midfielder Pedro Mendes

The internal club punishment was separate from any Football Association sanctions over the incident.

Thatcher, who has written to Mendes to apologise for the challenge, must answer an FA charge of serious foul play by 12 September.

Mendes has said he will not pursue a legal claim against Thatcher, but the Portuguese star has urged the FA to "make the right decision on his punishment".

The incident involving Welch took place during a reserve match between City and Blackburn at Morecambe's Christie Park ground.

A spokesman for Lancashire Police confirmed: "We have had correspondence from Merseyside Police and we are investigating the matter."

Welch has since been released by Rovers.