Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has admitted he may "possibly" have shoved striker Mario Balotelli after the club's 1-1 draw with Arsenal on Sunday.
Balotelli, dropped from the squad for the midweek Champions League defeat to Real Madrid, was introduced as an 85th minute substitute shortly after Laurent Koscielny had cancelled out Joleon Lescott's first half opener.
Several media outlets have reported Balotelli confronting his manager at full time, which compelled Mancini to push the irascible Italian striker.
City occasionally deploy cameras in the tunnel as part of features which they run on their website, but no footage has been published. Mancini was vague when questioned about the flashpoint.
"I don't know what happened after the game," the Telegraph report the former Internazionale manager as saying after he revealed he "possibly" pushed Balotelli.
"I don't know if he's asked me something, but it's not important. Mario probably thinks it was important. I don't know. I will ask him next time I see him."
Mancini vowed in April he would sell the 23-year-old this summer after his conduct towards the end of last season. Balotelli committed a malicious foul on then Arsenal midfielder Alexandre Song and was eventually red carded in a 1-0 defeat to the Gunners on Easter Sunday.
But after an impressive Euro 2012 campaign with Italy, in which he scored three goals, he has been retained by City despite several clubs enquiring as to his availability.
The Citizens lie seventh in the table after five games, having won two and drawn three.