Sergio Aguero's horror lunge on Chelsea star David Luiz sparks shocking scenes as Man City midfielder Fernandinho grabs Cesc Fabregas by the throat and shoves him over advertising hoardings in brawl

By Adam Shergold for MailOnline

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Chelsea's important win at Manchester City finished on a controversial note after a mass bust-up that resulted in Sergio Aguero and Fernandinho being sent off.

Antonio Conte's men had just scored their third goal through Eden Hazard to seal victory when a dreadful, knee-high tackle by Aguero on David Luiz led to tempers boiling over.

As Luiz clutched his leg on the turf, his team-mate Nathaniel Chalobah came over to remonstrate with Aguero, sparking a brawl that involved many players from both sides.

Chelsea and Manchester City players, including Gary Cahill and Kelechi Iheanacho, square up in the closing stages

Chelsea and Manchester City players, including Gary Cahill and Kelechi Iheanacho, square up in the closing stages

The bust-up, involving several players from both sides, came at the very end of Chelsea's 3-1 win at the Etihad Stadium

The bust-up, involving several players from both sides, came at the very end of Chelsea's 3-1 win at the Etihad Stadium

Fernandinho earned a straight red card after pushing Chelsea's Cesc Fabregas in the face during the brawl

Fernandinho earned a straight red card after pushing Chelsea's Cesc Fabregas in the face during the brawl

Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois rushed from his goal to try and calm tempers as Cahill clashed with Iheanacho 

Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois rushed from his goal to try and calm tempers as Cahill clashed with Iheanacho 

Fernandinho grabbed Fabregas by the throat as the Manchester City man was shown a red card by the referee

Fernandinho grabbed Fabregas by the throat as the Manchester City man was shown a red card by the referee

Replays showed that Fernandinho clearly shoved Fabregas in the throat on the touchline

Replays showed that Fernandinho clearly shoved Fabregas in the throat on the touchline

Fabregas ended up being pushed over an advertising hoarding by Fernandinho, leading to the second of City's red cards

Fabregas ended up being pushed over an advertising hoarding by Fernandinho, leading to the second of City's red cards

Stewards had to intervene to prevent supporters getting to Fabregas after he was pushed towards the crowd

Stewards had to intervene to prevent supporters getting to Fabregas after he was pushed towards the crowd

Fernandinho (left) walks towards the dressing room as Anthony Taylor brandishes the red card

Fernandinho (left) walks towards the dressing room as Anthony Taylor brandishes the red card

Fabregas checks he hasn't injured himself after returning to his feet as Victor Moses looks on

Fabregas checks he hasn't injured himself after returning to his feet as Victor Moses looks on

The Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola rushes on to pull his players away from the confrontation 

The Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola rushes on to pull his players away from the confrontation 

As City manager Pep Guardiola raced along the touchline to try and defuse the situation, Fernandinho picked an argument with Cesc Fabregas which culminated in his shoving the Spaniard over an advertising hoarding.


That led referee Anthony Taylor to brandish another red card for the Brazilian midfielder, having just shown one to Aguero for the initial challenge.

And as the pushing and shoving continued on the field, Fernandinho had to be restrained and pushed down the tunnel at the Etihad Stadium.

Aguero caught Luiz high and late as the Brazilian cleared the ball after the City man lost control of it

Aguero caught Luiz high and late as the Brazilian cleared the ball after the City man lost control of it

Aguero catches Luiz high on his left leg after the Brazilian defender had reached the ball ahead of him

Aguero catches Luiz high on his left leg after the Brazilian defender had reached the ball ahead of him

The aggravation resulted from a knee-high tackle by Sergio Aguero on David Luiz in the closing seconds of the game

The aggravation resulted from a knee-high tackle by Sergio Aguero on David Luiz in the closing seconds of the game

The horrendous challenge left Luiz sprawled on the turf at the Etihad Stadium and Aguero was rightly sent off

The horrendous challenge left Luiz sprawled on the turf at the Etihad Stadium and Aguero was rightly sent off

Luiz received treatment from the Chelsea medical staff once the situation had calmed down

Luiz received treatment from the Chelsea medical staff once the situation had calmed down

Referee Anthony Taylor had no hesitation in showing the Manchester City striker a straight red card for the tackle

Referee Anthony Taylor had no hesitation in showing the Manchester City striker a straight red card for the tackle

Aguero faces the possibility of a lengthy ban if the incident is further reviewed by the Football Association afterwards 

Aguero faces the possibility of a lengthy ban if the incident is further reviewed by the Football Association afterwards 

Referee Taylor pulls Aguero away from the flare-up as Cahill and Chalobah clash with Silva and Iheanacho

Referee Taylor pulls Aguero away from the flare-up as Cahill and Chalobah clash with Silva and Iheanacho

Chalobah was especially incensed by Aguero's rash challenge on Luiz, who is seen laying on the turf

Chalobah was especially incensed by Aguero's rash challenge on Luiz, who is seen laying on the turf

Chalobah came over and shoved Aguero to the ground in response to his high and reckless tackle on Luiz

Chalobah came over and shoved Aguero to the ground in response to his high and reckless tackle on Luiz

It was an undignified end to what had been a thrill-a-minute contest that saw Chelsea come from behind and extend their lead at the Premier League summit to four points.

City had taken the lead shortly before half-time when Gary Cahill diverted a Jesus Navas cross past his own goalkeeper Thiabaut Courtois.

Players rush over to get involved in the melee after Chalobah shoved Aguero following the City striker's rash tackle

Players rush over to get involved in the melee after Chalobah shoved Aguero following the City striker's rash tackle

Marocs Alonso grabs Kelechi Iheanacho by the arm to try and calm the situation as Gary Cahill and Thibaut Courtois look on

Marocs Alonso grabs Kelechi Iheanacho by the arm to try and calm the situation as Gary Cahill and Thibaut Courtois look on

The stoppage time brawl was a sorry end to what had been a very entertaining match at the Etihad Stadium

The stoppage time brawl was a sorry end to what had been a very entertaining match at the Etihad Stadium

Escorted by staff, stewards and Sky reporter Geoff Shreeves, Fernandinho is sent down the tunnel

Escorted by staff, stewards and Sky reporter Geoff Shreeves, Fernandinho is sent down the tunnel

City manager Pep Guardiola rushed onto the field to defuse tempers after the confrontation 

City manager Pep Guardiola rushed onto the field to defuse tempers after the confrontation 

But, defending a seven-match winning run in the league, Chelsea roared back in the second-half, with Diego Costa drawing them level on the hour mark after taking down an excellent Fabregas long ball.

Willian fired Chelsea into the lead 10 minutes later after another rapid counter-attack and the win was sealed in stoppage time when Hazard finished coolly one-on-one after Marcos Alonso played him through.

But the match ended on a sour note and it is likely that Aguero will face at least a three-match suspension for his incredibly reckless tackle on Luiz.

 

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