The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup final between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Chelsea was a thrilling showcase of football, but it ended in controversy when PSG manager Luis Enrique was involved in a physical altercation with Chelsea’s João Pedro. The incident, which occurred after Chelsea’s 3-0 victory on July 13, 2025, at MetLife Stadium, has sparked intense debate. This article explores the reasons behind Enrique’s actions, the context of the match, and the fallout, drawing from key details reported by Yahoo Sports.
The 2025 Club World Cup Final: A High-Stakes Clash
The final pitted European champions PSG against a tactically sharp Chelsea side, managed by Enzo Maresca. Chelsea dominated with goals from Cole Palmer (two) and João Pedro, securing a 3-0 win. The match was intense, with six yellow cards and a red card to PSG’s João Neves for pulling Marc Cucurella’s hair in the 85th minute. Tensions boiled over after the final whistle, leading to a chaotic scuffle involving players and staff from both teams.
What Happened in the Post-Match Altercation?
As Chelsea celebrated their victory, a confrontation erupted between PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and Chelsea’s João Pedro, with PSG’s Achraf Hakimi and Chelsea’s Andrey Santos also involved. Luis Enrique, attempting to intervene, appeared to swipe at João Pedro’s face or neck, causing the Brazilian to fall. The incident, captured on video, went viral, with social media posts on X condemning Enrique’s actions, one user even calling for a ban: “Luis Enrique just ASSAULTED a player after losing the Club World Cup final. BAN THIS MAN IMMEDIATELY.”
The match is over… but the tempers aren’t 👀
Tensions were boiling after full-time.GLOBAL HOME OF FOOTBALL | Live All Summer Long | https://t.co/i0K4eUtwwb | #FIFACWC #TakeItToTheWorld #CHEPSG pic.twitter.com/17yxSzsDF6
— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) July 13, 2025
Luis Enrique’s Explanation
In a post-match press conference, Enrique explained his actions, stating, “Like I said, I was trying to stop my players. There was a lot of tension, and there was a lot of pushing. It was an avoidable situation, logically. I have nothing else to say.” He emphasized that his goal was to “separate the players” and prevent further escalation, noting that he saw Chelsea’s Maresca pushing players as well. Enrique acknowledged the situation was regrettable and avoidable, expressing a desire to move forward and focus on PSG’s upcoming UEFA Super Cup match against Tottenham on August 13, 2025.
