Giovani Lo Celso and Joao Pedro were involved in a heated exchange in the dying embers of Brighton’s 4-2 victory against Tottenham.
Roberto De Zerbi’s side claimed a huge win against Spurs, ending their three-match winning streak, with Pedro scoring twice from the penalty spot, while Jack Hinshelwood and Pervis Estupinan also found the back of the net.
Ange Postecoglou’s side rallied late on with Son Heung-min setting up Alejo Veliz in the 81st minute, before Ben Davies headed in just four minutes later.
The Brazilian centre forward, who now has seven goals in 19 Premier League appearances for the Seagulls this season, was seen slowly leaving the field, clapping the fans, with Emerson Royal first pushing him towards the touchline in a bid to speed things up.
Giovani Lo Celso and Joao Pedro were involved in a heated altercation during Tottenham’s 4-2 defeat by Brighton on Thursday
It came after goalscorer Pedro had been slow to leave the pitch after he was subbed off
Lo Celso also appeared to take umbridge at his delay in leaving the pitch, grabbing the 22-year-old by the neck, before appearing to cover his mouth and exchange some heated words with the striker.
While it is uncertain as to what he said to the Brighton forward, Pedro turned to confront the attacking midfielder, grinning at him, before Lo Celso forcefully pushed the Brazilian away.
Pedro subsequently turned and walked off, with Evan Ferguson, who was standing next to the two players, seen pushing Lo Celso away.
It summed up Tottenham’s frustrations after falling to defeat, with the north London club missing out on the chance to leapfrog Man City to claim fourth place.
It was a disappointing performance from Postecoglou’s side, with the Seagulls also hitting the woodwork twice during the match, despite Spurs having 19 goal attempts with only three of those on target.
‘It is fair to say we looked like a tired team today, which is understandable,’ Postecoglou said after the match. ‘We’ve asked a lot of these players for a very long time and we lacked a little bit of energy today.
Pedro scored two penalties during the match, while Pervis Estupinan and Jack Hinshelwood also found the back of the net
Tottenham, meanwhile, missed out on a chance to leapfrog Man City to go fourth in the table
Ange Postecoglou lauded his team after the match but claimed his team looked ‘tired’
‘They are a good team and we struggled to cope with them. We hung in there and that’s all you can ask for, they left everything out there.
‘There are no grumbles from me with the penalties. They were clear and obvious.’
The Australian hit out at a foul by Lewis Dunk on Dejan Kulusevski, with the Swede sustaining an injury from the challenge.
‘It’s amazing that VAR picks up everything apart from a tackle that maybe puts out another of our players. They’re the decisions,’ he said.
He added, lauding his players: ‘It is demanding to play the football we ask and they are doing it week in week out. It’s not for a lack of effort. We haven’t been able to give the players a break at all and what we ask is pretty taxing.
‘Everything they’ve got, the players are giving me at the moment. I can’t ask anymore of them.’
