Chelsea Football Club has initiated a formal investigation following an unsavoury incident at the full-time whistle of their Premier League defeat to Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge.
Incident Mars Villa's Comeback Victory
The match, which ended in a 2-1 victory for the visitors, was overshadowed by reports that a plastic bottle was thrown from the vicinity of the Chelsea dugout towards the Aston Villa technical area. The incident occurred immediately after the final whistle on Saturday 28 December 2025.
According to witnesses, the object struck the Villa bench, showering several staff members with water. Members of Unai Emery's backroom team were seen turning around in clear disgust. While it has been suggested the projectile came from the home dugout area, Chelsea have stated this is unconfirmed and will be a key focus of their probe.
Match Context: Villa's Remarkable Streak Continues
The ill-tempered clash saw eight yellow cards shown to players, with Villa's set-piece coach Austin MacPhee also being booked. On the pitch, Villa produced another stunning comeback, a trait that has defined their recent away form.
Having fallen behind, second-half substitute Ollie Watkins scored twice to secure all three points for the Midlands club. This remarkable result marked Aston Villa's 11th consecutive victory across all competitions, continuing an extraordinary run of form.
Chelsea Pledge Full Cooperation
In an official statement, Chelsea confirmed they are looking into the matter with the utmost seriousness. The club has promised full cooperation with Aston Villa and the relevant authorities to identify the individual responsible.
CCTV footage from Stamford Bridge is expected to be thoroughly reviewed as part of the internal investigation to pinpoint the exact origin of the thrown bottle. Such behaviour contravenes both Premier League regulations and the club's own standards of conduct.
The incident casts a shadow over what was a significant footballing achievement for Villa. Unai Emery's side now sit just three points behind the league leaders as they prepare to face Arsenal on Tuesday night, where a win would set a new club record of 12 straight victories.
