MAURIZIO SARRI was sent off by ref Kevin Friend following a bust-up late in Chelsea’s draw with Burnley.
The Blues boss was given his marching orders after a spat between Mateo Kovacic and Burnley’s Jack Cork in injury time.
Reuters
Jamie McPhilimey – The Sun
Blues assistant Gianfranco Zola revealed Sarri was “frustrated and offended” by alleged abuse from the visitors’ bench.
At the final whistle in the 2-2 draw, there were ugly exchanges between the benches, with stewards stepping in to separate the two sides.
Sarri skipped his usual post-match press conference and Zola said: “He’s very frustrated, so he’d prefer not to come over.
“He’s been sent off. I think he’s been offended as well, so he didn’t feel it was right.
“But you can understand. He’s frustrated at the game, frustrated at being sent off and the other thing.”
Zola would not elaborate on what was said to Sarri but Chelsea plan to make an appeal to the FA over his 95th-minute red card — the Blues’ first of the season.
The flashpoint is expected to be included in Friend’s report to the FA.
Jeff Hendrick gave Burnley an eighth-minute lead before they were pegged back by goals from Kante and Gonzalo Higuain.
But Ashley Barnes levelled in the 24th minute as Burnley shut up shop.
Chelsea defender David Luiz, added: “We tried everything to win. It’s difficult against a team who have two chances and score two goals and didn’t want to play the game.
“It’s anti-football. It’s difficult to score a team like that.”
Tempers boiled over at the end as Burnley’s goalkeeper coach Billy Mercer appeared to clash with Chelsea staff, while injured defender Antonio Rudiger was also involved.
Burnley boss Sean Dyche said: “I don’t know what you are allowed to say any more. Man bags handbags, bumbags, some kind of bags in the tunnel.
“I didn’t see much of it, I was out clapping my fans, who came out on a Bank Holiday again.”
