League Cup final brawl: 'Trial' by video

DEEP into stoppage time, Arsenal are trailing 1-2, when Kolo Toure picks up the ball just over the halfway line.

He bursts forward, shrugging off Frank Lampard and John Obi Mikel, but is tugged back by the latter. Referee Howard Webb, who is less than 10metres away, blows for a free kick.

Toure then runs to Mikel and starts the brawl, which involved even the managers Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho, reported The Independent.

When it all calms down, Webb, after consulting his assistants, shows red cards to Mikel, Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor. Francesc Fabregas and Lampard get yellow for going at each other like wrestlers.

Did the referee get it right?



JOHN OBI MIKEL: Commits the original foul, then wrestles with Kolo Toure. Thereafter, referee Howard Webb grabs him and holds on.

KOLO TOURE: Goes for Mikel after being fouled, then for Frank Lampard when the Chelsea midfielder intervenes, shoving Webb aside in the process. Has to be pulled away by Julio Baptista.

JOSE MOURINHO: Quick to the melee, raises his arms in a 'calm down' gesture to the grappling throng.

ARSENE WENGER: Comes on to the pitch, then becomes engaged in an argument with Steve Clarke, Chelsea's assistant manager.

WAYNE BRIDGE AND EMMANUEL EBOUE: Bridge pulls the ball out of the hand of Eboue, who kicks him in the shin and strikes him on the back of his head. Bridge's immediate response is to draw his elbow back, as if to jab Eboue in the ribs. Then he sees an official to his right, stops, clutches his head, and falls to the ground. Eboue loses his balance and tumbles on top of him. Bridge rolls around in apparent agony, and receives lengthy treatment.

JUSTIN HOYTE: Initially stands off, but then grabs Carvalho by his shirt.

FRANK LAMPARD: Pushes past Webb to get to Toure, ostensibly to get the Arsenal captain off Mikel. Appears to further inflame Toure, who lunges back at him. Shoves back after being grabbed by Francesc Fabregas. The pair continue to argue, even after the incident.

FRANCESC FABREGAS: Dives in and grabs Lampard round the neck, then wrestles with him. Confronts Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, later slapped by Drogba.

EMMANUEL ADEBAYOR: Launches himself into the fray with arms raised aggressively. Appears to make contact with Carvalho and Lampard. Later drags Drogba away from Fabregas. Initially refuses to leave the field when dismissed. Webb has to point the way to the dressing room five times, before Adebayor is dragged away by teammates.

DIDIER DROGBA: Re-ignites the conflict by slapping Fabregas, who is arguing with Andriy Shevchenko, on the back of the head. He then grabs the Spaniard by the neck, but is pulled away by Emmanuel Adebayor, as Mourinho steps in to calm Fabregas.

MICHAEL ESSIEN: Appears to cuff Denilson on the face, as the pair grapple.

RICARDO CARVALHO: Involved quickly, but seems to act only as a peacemaker.