‘The French goalkeeper attended Holbeck Police Station yesterday afternoon to give his version of the incident on September 14 during the Leeds United v Manchester United game.
He was released on bail, without charge. A decision will be taken later on whether Barthez will face any charges.
It is alleged that Mr Barthez threw or kicked his half full plastic water bottle into the crowd, seconds after Harry Kewell scored the winning goal for Leeds. The bottle hit 54-year-old Leeds supporter Colin Richmond in the face, momentarily knocking him out.
Mr Richmond, who is suing Mr Barthez for damages, insisted his decision to take civil action was not motivated by inter-club rivalry – and would have taken legal action even if a Leeds player had thrown the bottle. Mr Richmond was in the disabled spectators' section of the Kop when he was hit by the half-full water bottle. Mr Richmond, who suffers from arthritis, passed out for a few seconds after being hit. He had a nose wound which required a stitch, a cut under the eyelid which bled profusely, swelling and bruising to the eye and a bloodshot eye. He explained: "I am not suing for the money but because I was injured because of someone else's actions."
West Yorkshire Police said: ``We can confirm a 31-year-old man attended a Leeds police station yesterday where he was arrested and interviewed in connection with an allegation of an assault on a man on September 14 at Leeds United Football Ground.
``He has been bailed pending further inquiries.''
A spokeswoman for United said: ``We can confirm that Fabien Barthez has been questioned as part of an ongoing investigation and it is in the hands of the police.''