Reading goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann was steaming after being forced to take a cold shower after their 0-0 draw at Wigan Athletic.
A stunned Emile Heskey, who was being interviewed in the tunnel area by the media, and his boss Steve Bruce then appealed for calm before calling for the stadium manager to rectify the situation.
It is understood the Wigan team were also without hot water after the match, says the Reading Evening Post.
But Royals manager Steve Coppell said: "How would you feel if you had just played and had a five-hour coach journey to come, only to find you couldn't have a shower or had to have a freezing cold one?
"It's the kind of thing that just doesn't happen any more in the Premiership. The players responded to it, but anybody would be within their right to do so."