Levi Colwill and James McClean both grabbed the shirts of each other during an angry exchange. (Image: Chelsea FC)
Chelsea defender Levi Colwill and Wrexham forward James McClean had to be separated by officials, team-mates and coaches after a brawl erupted just two minutes into Wednesday’s pre-season friendly.
The incident appeared to come out of nowhere, with Chelsea safely maintaining possession in their own half. However, as Colwill passed the ball to fellow defender Benoit Badiashile, McClean lunged in, prompting an immediate reaction from the Chelsea star.
Colwill aggressively grabbed McClean’s shirt collar, leading to a shoving match between the pair that only ended when players and coaches intervened. Despite the altercation, neither faced any further punishment, with the referee keeping his cards in his pocket due to the game being a friendly.
This unexpected start to Chelsea’s US tour, where they are set to face Celtic, Club America, Real Madrid and Manchester City, also marked a fiery beginning to Enzo Maresca’s reign. This was his first official game in charge since leaving Leicester and replacing Mauricio Pochettino.
The Wrexham vs Chelsea match signalled the start of the US pre-season tour for both teams, with the League One club basking in their newfound global fame. The game took place at Levi’s Stadium, home to the NFL team San Francisco 49ers.
Several people were involved in the brawl (Image: Chelsea)
It ended 2-2 with goals from Christopher Nkunku and Lesley Ugochukwu cancelled out by Luke Bolton and Jack Marriott’s strikes in Santa Clara, California.
Since Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney took over, Wrexham has seen a surge in popularity in North America, largely due to the hit docuseries ‘Welcome to Wrexham’.
The Welsh club has achieved consecutive promotions and will compete in League One next season after just one term in League Two. In light of their rapid ascent, Wrexham has brought on seasoned players like McClean to bolster their ranks.
With 158 Premier League appearances under his belt from his time at Sunderland and West Bromwich Albion, McClean joined Wrexham for a fresh challenge.
After leaving Wigan to sign with Wrexham last summer, he played a pivotal role in their promotion to League One.
Colwill’s reaction may have been excessive, but pre-season games typically see less physicality as players aim to steer clear of injuries before the new season kicks off.
Colwill will be keen to cement his place in Maresca’s plans ahead of their clash with Manchester City on August 18.
Meanwhile, McClean is no stranger to physical play, particularly when up against superior opposition. Of his 158 Premier League appearances, he was penalised for fouls 155 times.
McClean also racked up 29 yellow cards and one red during his Premier League tenure, and has been sent off twice elsewhere. His experience will undoubtedly prove invaluable to Wrexham in League One, a division he previously won with Wigan in the 2022/23 season.
Source: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1927729/Chelsea-Wrexham-brawl-Levi-Colwill-James-McClean