The Football Association has written to Tottenham and Manchester United to apologise for a tweet sent from the FA Cup's official account that mocked striker Harry Kane after Spurs' defeat on Saturday.

Both Spurs and United were left angry by the joke at Kane's expense and sources said the striker, who could captain England at this summer's World Cup, was bemused and disappointed by the tweet, which came at the end of a difficult week for the player and his club.

Just minutes after United's 2-1 win in the FA Cup semifinal at Wembley Stadium, in which Kane was unusually subdued, a tweet was posted from the competition's official account with the message, "What's in your pocket, Chris" -- and a video of United defender Chris Smalling saying "Harry Kane."

The account is run in-house by the FA and the tweet also left senior figures at the organisation furious. It attracted a huge response, being retweeted over 20,000 times, before it was deleted.

An FA spokesman told ESPN FC: "We have written to both clubs to apologise for any offence caused."

Kane has been the subject of light-hearted ridicule after claiming a goal that was originally credited to Christian Eriksen in Spurs' win at Stoke on April 7.

A source told ESPN FC that Spurs were also left angry by comments on Sunday by Professional Footballers' Association chairman Ben Purkiss, who poured further derision on Kane at the PFA Awards.

"Harry Kane is so prolific that he is able to score without touching the ball," Cambridge defender Purkiss joked.

It was the latest jibe aimed at Kane by fellow professionals -- which have also included his England teammates.

Kane came third behind Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah and Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne as PFA Player of the Year and was runner-up to City's Leroy Sane in the young player category.

Spurs sources said it was an evening to celebrate another fabulous season for Kane, who remains in contention for the Golden Boot, rather than continue to mock him.

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has already said Kane, who has struggled for sharpness since returning from an ankle injury at the beginning of this month, was left disappointed by the furore.

Source:
courtesy of ESPN

by Dan Kilpatrick

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