Tensions boiled over at the end of Chelsea's dramatic win over West Ham. In the dying embers of stoppage time, Jean-Clair Todibo was given his marching orders after he was adjudged him to have handled Joao Pedro in a 'violent manner'.
Adama Traore sparked the conflict when he threw Marc Cucurella to the floor in frustration. While the Hammers winger pleaded for a corner, Joao Pedro leapt to his teammates' defence and shoved him towards the advertising board.
Traore stumbled, and charged towards the Chelsea striker. Trevoh Chalobah burst onto the scene and stopped the Spaniard from getting his hands on Pedro. Tomas Soucek, albeit very briefly, tried to deescalate the situation until Todibo put his hands around the neck of the Blues talisman.
Suddenly, a mass brawl broke out. Robert Sanchez held back the West Ham defender and Konstantinos Mavropanos grappled Pedro, meanwhile, Reece James, Wesley Fofana, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Crysencio Summerville, and Alphonse Areola tried to calm down Traore.
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Anthony Taylor watched from afar while the Video Assistant Referee, Michael Salisbury, and his assistant, Sian Massey-Ellis, combed the footage of the brawl at Stockley Park. They eventually request the on-field referee to review the incident himself on the pitchside monitor.
Taylor watched back Todibo's encounter with Pedro before brandishing a red card. Announcing the decision to supporters at Stamford Bridge, the referee said: "After review, West Ham number 25 grabs Chelsea 20 around the throat in a violent manner. Therefore, my final decision will be red card for violent conduct."
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