Luis Enrique grabbed Joao Pedro by the throat after "Chelsea" demolished "PSG" 3-0 in the 2025 Club World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The shocking post-match brawl erupted immediately after the final whistle, involving players and coaching staff from both sides.
"In such a stressful situation after an intense match, I was actually trying to separate players, not make things worse," Enrique claimed afterward. "Everyone was involved due to the pressure. This should be avoided, but unfortunately, it happened."
Footage clearly shows the PSG coach first pushing the Brazilian striker before aggressively grabbing his neck, causing Pedro to fall to the ground. The incident capped an already miserable night for the French champions, who were thoroughly outplayed by their English opponents.
Enrique attempted to justify his actions by suggesting he was trying to prevent the conflict from escalating. "My goal was to stop the conflict from spreading. But under such pressure, things sometimes don't go as planned," he added.
By the way, the Spanish manager also mentioned that Enzo Maresca, Chelsea's head coach, was similarly trying to intervene in the chaotic scenes.
"Chelsea" secured the prestigious trophy thanks to Cole Palmer's double and the third goal from Joao Pedro – ironically the same player who later became the target of Enrique's aggression.
The triumph was particularly sweet for the London club, who completely dominated the Champions League winners from Paris. PSG simply had no answer to Chelsea's clinical performance.
FIFA is expected to review the ugly scenes, with disciplinary action likely heading Enrique's way. Both teams are now heading for a brief summer break after a long season. Will the Spanish coach face a touchline ban for the start of next season?
