Ian Wright has had his wings clipped - after being accused of cuffing Colchester United's eagle mascot.

The Burnley striker - who today demanded an apology from U's fans after accusing them of abusing his wifeduring Saturday's game - appeared to push Eddie the Eagle's beak away at the end of the match.

Now he could be winging his way down to London to perch in front of FA beaks if mascot Eddie - alias Mark Livermore - makes a formal complaint.

Former Arsenal, Celtic and England striker Wright was chirping in the national press today about stinging criticism of his wife Debbie during the game.

Wright, 36, has now urged U's fans to come up with an apology but the club's press spokesman Brian Wheeler claimed it was all harmless fun.

He said: "Wright has flown all over the world playing for some of the best teams in England and now he's got the bird over something like this.

"Our mascot Eddie hasn't taken any action even though Wrighty smacked him in the face. He later apologised and said the fans had wound him up but it doesn't excuse his behaviour.

"We don't condone racist or obscene chanting at our club but we haven't had any complaints about the Ian Wright chants from anyone who was at the game.

"The facts are that the chants were offensive but they were not racist. We've heard more from suppporters about Wright punching Eddie than anything else."

Eagle Eddie added: "If I had done something like that to him I would have been kicked out of the U's. More than 6,000 people turned up to watch him and his behaviour was inexcusable."

And U's supporters today claimed they had nothing to apologise for.

Jon Burns, chairman of the Colchester United Supporters' Association, said: "I never heard any chants directed at Ian Wright during the game.

"I have since heard he may have come in for a bit of stick but that's part and parcel of being a superstar. Fans will do anything to try to wind up someone like him and if he got a rough ride at Colchester I would think he may be in for a lot worse elsewhere this season."

FA chiefs said the referee had not made a note either of the chanting or of the incident involving the mascot in his match report and would not be taking any action unless they received a formal complaint.

A spokesman said: "Unless the mascot makes a complaint to the FA then it is very unlikely we will be taking any further action on this matter.

"It just looks as though one or two people have had their feathers ruffled."

Injured defender David Greene will be out of action for another two weeks after suffering a setback.

The U's contract rebel, who has been out of action since being carried off against Bury last month, has been told he now needs another plaster cast on his injured knee.

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