Paris Saint-Germain head coach Luis Enrique appeared to strike Chelsea forward Joao Pedro in the aftermath of the Blues being crowned Club World Cup champions. The fierce clash was tipping towards boiling point in New York before tempers boiled over after the full-time whistle.
There was a mass confrontation in the centre circle as Chelsea players and staff flooded the pitch to celebrate the achievement. However, television cameras appeared to pick up the Champions League-winning tactician lash out at the new Stamford Bridge hero, leaving Pedro in a heap.
The tension spilt over with PSG heading towards a rare defeat after Chelsea denied them an unprecedented trophy haul after winning Ligue 1, both domestic cups and the elite European competition.
Both Enrique and Enzo Maresca were seen in the midst of the melee as representatives of both clubs tangled trying to separate after the incident.
The Italian was seen in an intense conversation with fellow countryman, Gianluigi Donnarumma, after the commotion which was sparked shortly after the full-time whistle.
Joao Neves was shown a straight red card during normal time after referee Alireza Faghani brandished a straight red card for the Portuguese starlet, after the 20-year-old appeared to pull Marc Cucurella’s hair with the official sending him off after a VAR review.
Chelsea stunned the French giants with a relentless attacking display, stifling the Parisiens who had previously torn apart Real Madrid on their way to the final at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Cole Palmer continued his rich vein of form with two goals in eight minutes to complete a first-half double.
Pedro added his third goal in two matches in the competition after a deft chip over Donnarumma – handing Chelsea a surprise three-goal lead in the opening 45.
PSG, who had impervious throughout their historic season, were left shell-shocked and it quickly turned sour with a number of high-profile incidents.
Neves had to be pulled away from Cucurella in the moments leading up to his dismissal as PSG grew frustrated and Nuno Mendes was lucky to survive further action after a robust challenge on Christopher Nkunku.
Though, the ugly scenes in the United States didn’t take the shine off the victory or the achievement from Chelsea which sees them become the first team to win the new-look Club World Cup.
In doing so, the club name and crest were etched on the trophy with their Premier League campaign due to begin in just over four weeks.
The Blues are due to play Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan before the curtain raises on the top-flight season at home to Crystal Palace on August 17.
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