Chelsea are to investigate after Aston Villa, who beat the Blues 2-1 at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, reported that a bottle was thrown at their substitutes bench as emotions ran high.
The incident took place just after the final whistle was blown on a game that reached a dramatic conclusion with Villa coming from behind to stun Enzo Maresca’s side.
Chelsea will investigate the complaint having been told that a plastic water bottle was launched at the Villa bench, showering players and staff.
Photos clearly captured the moment the bottle flew through the air and sprayed the Villa replacements.
It is not yet known who the culprit was despite a member of the Villa backroom team indicating he saw where it came from.
Chelsea are understood to be happily cooperating with their Premier League counterparts and are unimpressed with the incident.
The water bottle (top right) was launched at the Aston Villa bench after their win
Aston Villa reported the incident and Chelsea say they will investigate what happened
Daily Mail Sport have asked the Premier League and Football Association for comment.
There is expected to be CCTV footage that will help identify who threw the bottle.
Tensions ran high at Stamford Bridge after the home fans were rocked by two Ollie Watkins goals in the second half after the England striker came off the bench.
Watkins’ header in the 84th minute proved to be the winner and there were wild celebrations on the Villa bench.
Unai Emery was jubilant in his reaction to both goals his side continued their blistering form in the Premier League.
Villa are third, only three points behind leaders Arsenal, who they face next Tuesday in a massive game at the Emirates.
Meanwhile, Chelsea were left licking their wounds and the unrest extended beyond the bottle incident to Cole Palmer’s frustration at being substituted.
Maresca was questioned about Palmer’s reaction to being hauled off and insisted he was not bothered, explaining: ‘No, he was working very good. He was on the ball and off the ball, pressing, he was very good.
‘We have another game now in 48 hours, so he was good and we are happy that he’s back.’
He went on to add: ‘In this moment it’s difficult to analyse because we need to understand again why when we concede a goal we struggle to manage the game in a better way. Again, it can be experience or it can be that we need to analyse and we need to understand that.
‘I think the [first] goal we conceded was the turning point. Until the goal we conceded, that is around one hour, we were completely in control of the game. Again, it’s something that is not the first time that has happened.
‘And when we concede a goal, even if we are winning and we concede a goal, we struggle a little bit with the management of the game. And it’s something that for sure we need to improve.’
