Former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett has called on the FA to investigate a feisty bust-up that broke out after Chelsea and Arsenal's Carabao Cup semi-final first leg on Wednesday night. The Gunners took advantage in the tie with a 3-2 win away at Stamford Bridge.
Ben White and Viktor Gyokeres had given Mikel Arteta's side a two-nil lead before substitute Alejandro Garnacho dragged the Blues back into the game. Martin Zubimendi bagged the North Londoners' third, but Garnacho was on target again to give Liam Rosenior hope of a comeback at the Emirates on February 3rd.
Referee Simon Hooper rarely had to intervene during the semi-final, and both sides remained reasonably well-behaved for the 90 minutes. But tempers flared after the final whistle, when Zubimendi and Enzo Fernandez were involved in an altercation, prompting Rosenior to play peacemaker.
FA Told To Investigate Chelsea vs Arsenal Bust-Up
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Zubimendi and Fernandez exchanged words before their confrontation turned ugly as the Chelsea midfielder grabbed the Arsenal goalscorer. New Blues boss Rosenior was among several members of staff and players who stepped in to try and separate the pair.
The incident comes just days after a similar clash occurred in the aftermath of Aston Villa's 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup third round. Spurs' Joao Palhinha was furious with Ollie Watkins' post-match celebrations and ended up getting physical with the English striker's teammate, Morgan Rogers.
Hackett, who previously condemned that 'disgraceful' scrap, alluded to this when demanding the FA take action against both London clubs. He told Football Insider:
"We are witnessing a few of these confrontations this season, which tarnish the image of the game and, of course, are very public. The FA need to investigate with the PGMOL and the competitions and determine if a different protocol at the end of the game needs to be introduced."
Hackett suggested that match stewards be on hand to prevent such ordeals from occurring:
"This may involve a number of stewards entering the field of play at the conclusion of the game to keep the players apart. Determine if sanctions need to be increased as a deterrent. Something clearly needs to be done."
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It remains to be seen whether the FA will investigate the incident which was caught on Sky Sports cameras. Fernandez looked to have grabbed Zubimendi by the neck before Rosenior pulled the Argentine away.
What Actually Happened Between Fernandez and Zubimendi
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The argument between the two players seemed to occur when Fernandez approached Zubimendi, clearly upset about something. His comments to the Arsenal midfielder prompted the Spaniard to laugh, which only further riled the Argentine.
Pedro Neto tried pushing Fernandez away, but this was when he grabbed hold of Zubimendi's neck and was still directing verbal abuse at the Gunners summer signing. Rosenior was seen shouting as he tried to move his player away, and quickly several players and the visiting backroom staff were on the scene.
There have been several similar altercations between players when the two London clubs have met in the past. Their big blowup has made the second leg in February that much more intriguing, with the tie so narrowly poised after Garnacho's brace.