Chelsea’s dramatic comeback win was overshadowed by ugly scenes at the final whistle as Jean-Clair Todibo was sent off for grabbing Joao Pedro by the throat, sparking a mass brawl involving players from both sides.
Tempers flared immediately after the game ended, with Joao Pedro at the centre of the flashpoint. Todibo appeared to place a hand on the forward’s throat during the confrontation, and officials moved quickly to restore order as the situation escalated.
The incident drew in multiple players as the touchline area turned chaotic, with team-mates and staff stepping in to separate those involved. Todibo eventually saw red, with the defender dismissed following the clash.
The dismissal came despite Chelsea having just completed a sensational comeback, a finish that should have been the main talking point. Instead, the post-match disorder threatened to eclipse the football, as the two squads continued to argue before they were finally split up.
What was revealed in the aftermath was that Todibo’s red card was specifically shown for grabbing Joao Pedro by the throat as the brawl broke out, a decision that left his side to reflect on a costly moment of indiscipline after the match had already been decided.
