Cesc Fabregas has been accused of sparking the ugly scenes at the end of Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge battle with Tottenham Hotspur by slapping the groins of Spurs players and staff.

The Telegraph can also reveal that Chelsea’s interim manager Guus Hiddink not only dragged Fabregas off the pitch in an attempt to defuse the situation, but also angrily laid into one of his own members of staff who had joined in the tunnel bust up.

While Fabregas should escape any punishment from the Football Association for his involvement, the Tottenham midfielder Mousa Dembélé could be hit with an extended retrospective suspension for his eye gouge on Diego Costa.