English FA launches Chelsea-Al Alhi brawl probe

Sunday, 23 August 2009 11:01 PM

BUST-UP: Senior Chelsea players such as Nicolas Anelka not involved in training ground bust-up. (Getty Images)

The English Football Association is to launch a probe into a training ground friendly match last week between Chelsea apprentices and players from UAE club Al Alhi, that descended into an on field brawl.Britain’s News of the World reported on Sunday that Chelsea players being groomed for the first team were assaulted with karate kicks, knee-high tackles and had their hair pulled out and eyes gouged.

One eye witness told the newspaper: "There were people being chased all over the pitch, eyes were being gouged, hair was being pulled out and one of the Al Alhi players shoved his fingers up the nose of Gael Kakuta. Every player was involved but Chelsea didn't start it."

The unnamed referee, who abandoned the game after 35 minutes, has submitted a full report of the incident to FA bosses in London’s Soho Square.

A recording of the incident, captured by the club’s in-house TV channel, Chelsea TV, has been locked away in a safe, pending further enquiries.

Trouble flared after half-an-hour when Chelsea left-back Ben Gordon was taken out by a two-footed tackle above the knee, the paper added.

Although the game continued the ref was forced to abandon it when both teams began trading punches just before half-time.

Al Alhi players were not allowed back into the changing rooms and were immediately put straight on to the team bus in their kit.

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Posted by: Nik Monday, 31 August 2009 12:14 PM[UAE] - UAE

Sanjay gets it right when he says "these things happen in many real matches". In UAE this is probably the case but with the exception of Vinnie Jones and the infamous "tackle" on Gascoine, players dont usually stick there hands where they are not wanted. Which is best? Well the EPL is viewed as one of the best in the world so I know where i'd put my vote.

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Posted by: Bu7MaiD Tuesday, 25 August 2009 5:25 AM[UAE] - UAE

As the "eye witness" said that he saw everyone fighting then said that Chelsea didnt start it without any proof , al ahli players said that after a foul on al ahli club because a tackle the ( left midfeilder ) player from chelsea club kicked al ahli player who was on the flour ..

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Posted by: bob Monday, 24 August 2009 5:04 PM[UAE] - uae

It sounds as though the local team were probably outplayed and got frustrated, you would have to blame the referee and the Al Ahli club as a whole, if you want to play football play football if you want to fight take up boxing or MMA, as for sticking finger's up people's noses it sounds as if the Al Ahli team can not play football or fight!!!!!!

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Posted by: Sanjay Monday, 24 August 2009 11:09 AM[UAE] - UAE

To be fair, it seems like Chelsea cam off 2nd best in a fight and are now whining. At least Ahli players know how to stand up like real men and are not pansy . Also similar things happen in many real matches so lets not blow it out of proportion...

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Posted by: Harry Barracuda Monday, 24 August 2009 9:32 AM[UAE] - Bahrain

They'll never win anything, and all they'll do is embarrass themselves and their nation. Besides which if Chelsea's knuckle dragging fans had found out about it, they'd all be going back to the UAE in plaster casts.

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