Erling Haaland reported to police after ‘leaving mascot with suspected whiplash’

The mascot claimed she suffered neck and head pain

According to The Sun, the woman was working inside cuddly alien mascot 'Moonbeam' before City's 1-0 victory over Southampton last October when Haaland gave her a 'playful knock to the back of her head'.

It’s claimed the City employee initially assumed she had been hit by a football while posing for a photograph before learning that Haaland had ‘playfully’ struck her twice from behind at the Etihad.

The report adds that the unnamed female – who began working as a City temp last summer – was sent for checks at hospital the following day and subsequently lodged an assault complaint with Greater Manchester Police.

While accusing City of a ‘cover-up’ to protect their star striker Haaland, the individual in question lifted the lid on the moment a colleague filled her in on what they believed had happened.

She told the tabloid that she made her way off the pitch and asked, 'What the hell was that that hit me?' to which her colleague replied: "It was Erling. He hit you from behind."

She added: "I was pretty upset and I was crying and my head was thudding and I think I was in shock. I later realised he’d come behind me and hit me on the head and then leaned on my head."

A City safeguarding employee is alleged to have told her, ‘At least you can say Erling Haaland hit you,’ before she proceeded to finish her shift at City’s stadium.

After ‘vomiting and suffering neck and head pain’, she was encouraged to go to hospital by a first-team doctor employed by City the next day.

"I asked if anyone had spoken to Erling and he said, 'No, they don’t want to distract him'.

"I was offended because I was the one hurt but I was being asked all the questions.

"I’m sure Erling would have apologised to me if they had given him the chance. But they just wanted to sweep it under the carpet."

The Sun claim a probe launched by City’s health and safety chief Paul Kenyon concluded that Haaland had not caused her injuries, with CCTV footage allegedly showing the Norwegian only ‘grazing’ the mascot.

The report adds that Greater Manchester Police investigated and concurred that Haaland had not acted with malice.

A spokesperson for the football club said: "The incident was fully investigated and found that none of the evidence, including video footage, backed up the claim that an injury was sustained in the manner alleged.

"We’re also aware a complaint was made to Greater Manchester Police and no further action was taken by them either."

City return to action on Sunday for their semi-final clash against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.