West Bromwich Albion midfielder Chris Brunt has called on the supporter who threw a coin at his face to come forward.
The Northern Ireland international was struck under his left eye while walking over to the club's fans at the end of Saturday's 3-1 defeat to Reading in the FA Cup.
Brunt intended to give his shirt away to a member of the travelling support at the Madejski Stadium when the incident occurred.
The Football Association has launched an investigation and while Brunt is not hopeful, he believes that the culprit should 'own up'.
"I can't pick that coin up and throw it back at him," ITV.com quotes Brunt as saying. "If I did that I would be all over the news and probably sitting in a police cell. It is definitely not on.
"I was pretty angry in the heat of the moment. I didn't see what happened, I turned around and got hit by a coin. I don't know who threw it, I don't know where it came from. It is a brave man to throw a coin from there and a braver man if he admits to it.
"I don't really see how that was any different to whacking someone in the street. We are not allowed to do it and nobody is allowed to do it in the street so why should he be allowed to throw coins at football matches?"
When asked if he expects the coin-thrower to apologise, Brunt said: "Probably not, but it would show and make him a bigger man than what he was to throw a coin from 20 yards away to hit me in the head if he owned up to it. You are throwing football back 20 years with some of the behaviour there."
Meanwhile, a supporter has been arrested for a similar incident that happened during Chelsea's 5-1 victory over Manchester City in Sunday's FA Cup match.
Danielle Joynson
