Erling Haaland has been accused of leaving Manchester City mascot 'Moonbeam' with 'suspected whiplash and concussion' by the woman inside the costume. 

She alleges that she received playful knocks to the head from the 6ft 4in striker ahead of City's 1-0 win over Southampton in October.

The blows came after she posed for a photo, she claims, and left her in shock and asking a colleague what had hit her. 

Furthermore, in an interview with The Sun, she claims that a club probe cleared the Norwegian before her contract was not renewed. The woman, who started as a City temp last June and occasionally worked as Moonbeam on matchdays, also lodged an assault complaint with police.

'I was pretty upset and I was crying and my head was thudding and I think I was in shock,' she said. 'I later realised he'd come behind me and hit me on the head and then leaned on my head.'

The woman claims that she told the club's safeguarding chief who laughed it off and said: 'At least you can say Erling Haaland hit you.'

She was reportedly offered the chance to go home after the incident but did not take up the offer and later vomited and suffered neck and head pain. She claims to have been seen by City's first-team doctor the following day who suggested she go to the hospital. 

According to The Sun, The Salford Royal's A&E notes confirmed her symptoms though a CT scan revealed no damage. City's health and safety head Paul Kenyon launched a probe and told the woman they wanted to look at CCTV.

A probe concluded that Haaland did not cause her injuries. A report stated: 'Erling Haaland always does a gentle touch on the back or head of Moonbeam as recognition.' 

To add insult to injury, the woman claims that after returning to her role in the ticket office she was told to reapply for her contract to be renewed. But after a half-day interview, she was informed last December she had not been successful.

'I have never had any complaints from any of the managers about my work before,' she added. 'They said they didn’t feel like I’d performed in the interviews to the 100 per cent I usually do.'

A Manchester City spokesperson said: 'We 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.'