Friday 6 May 2016 14:33, UK
Chelsea interim manager Guus Hiddink has played down the severity of the mass brawl which marred the end of Monday's draw with Tottenham.
Referee Mark Clattenburg was forced to produce 12 yellow cards in a bad-tempered encounter at Stamford Bridge, while Spurs midfielder Mousa Dembele was later charged with violent conduct over an incident of alleged eye gouging.
A melee broke out between the two sets of players close to the tunnel following the final whistle and Hiddink admits that there was too many moments of confrontation throughout the game.
"Of course it was a hard game because there's always this in these rivalries, but you have to play within the rules of sportsmanship," he said.
"There were too many chest to chest situations which was not good for the game. It's up to the FA what to do."
Hiddink appeared to be pushed over during the brawl but the Dutchman played down the fracas, describing it as a "minor incident".
"I worked in the Latin world and there is a lot of pushing and shoving going on, not every game," he said.
"For me it was a minor thing - there was a bit of pushing and I lost my balance. For me it was a minor thing so I got up rather quickly," added Hiddink, who also defended Cesc Fabregas' actions following the end of the match.
"They were talking to each other rather loudly in Spanish, so I took Cesc away into the tunnel and then the shuffling started from which I lost my balance," Hiddink said.
"From there on he went into the tunnel without any arguing. Later on one of my physios, who wanted to protect me, said 'I'll go into their dressing room', but Cesc was not involved there."
Chelsea face Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Saturday before Hiddink takes charge of the Blues for the final time at home to newly-crowned champions Leicester on May 15.
