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The mass brawl that overshadowed Chelsea’s 2-2 draw with Burnley on Monday night was reportedly sparked after several individuals on the away bench called Maurizio Sarri a ’s*** Italian’ several times.

Head coach Sarri refused to talk to the media after Chelsea's lacklustre home draw with the Clarets, incensed at being sent off and claiming he was abused by the visiting coaching team.

Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger and Burnley goalkeeping coach Billy Mercer had to be separated by the officials at the final whistle, as a gripping encounter ended in ugly touchline scenes at Stamford Bridge.

David Luiz and Ashley Westwood then clashed as the teams left the field, and that after Gonzalo Higuain had thrown a bottle into the dugout in a petulant response to being replaced late on.

(Image: Getty Images)

And ESPN have claimed that Sarri lost his cool after he was branded a ’s*** Italian' by several individuals of the visiting club.

Chelsea are expected to lodge a format complaint with the Football Association after Burnley's backroom staff "offended" Sarri.

Blues coach Sarri could wind up with a touchline ban, though his assistant Gianfranco Zola reported his boss was in an angry state.

Asked if Chelsea will contact the FA over Sarri's frustrations, Zola said: "I think there will be a follow (up) on that. Maurizio felt very unhappy.

(Image: REUTERS)

"We understand it's a football game. You say words because of the adrenaline, but he wasn't particularly happy.

"If Maurizio said that, probably it's something that could have been avoided."

Explaining why he attended the press conference and not Sarri, Zola continued: "The reason is he's very frustrated, so he'd prefer not to come over here.

"He's been sent off. I think he's been offended as well, so he didn't feel it was the right thing to do, to speak to you.

(Image: PA)

"I know you wanted him, so I'm sorry. But you can understand: he's frustrated at the game, frustrated at being sent off, and the other thing. He'd prefer not to come in.

"I think he's been told something from their bench, but don't ask me what; I don't want to go down that line. We'll see what we can do about that.

"It's a football game, and it's normal that there is a lot of passion in it.

"We felt very unhappy, and also that Maurizio has been sent off while he was just trying to tell our players to get in position."