Marc Cucurella admits deliberately sparking huge Chelsea brawl that led to FA charge

Marc Cucurella was involved in a mass brawl towards the end of Chelsea's victory over West Ham United last month

Marc Cucurella has opened up on his role in the mass brawl that broke out late in Chelsea's win over West Ham United.

In stoppage time of the Blues' 3-2 win over the Hammers, Adama Traore threw Cucurella to the ground in anger before Jean-Clair Todibo grabbed Joao Pedro by the neck and was sent off. Both clubs have since been charged over the incident with a statement from the FA reading: "Chelsea FC and West Ham United FC have been charged following their Premier League fixture on Saturday, 31 January.

"It's alleged that Chelsea FC failed to ensure its players didn’t behave in an improper and/or provocative way around the 95th minute. West Ham United FC allegedly failed to ensure that its players didn’t behave in an improper and/or provocative and/or violent way at that same time. Both clubs have until Friday, 6 February, to provide their respective responses."

Cucurella has now opened up on the incident and suggested he wanted to 'create a bit of controversy'.

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"There's a moment when I get up and I notice I'm very close to him, and I said, well, I'm going to stick my head in here to see if I can create a bit of controversy," Cucurella said. "He grabbed me, threw me where he could, and a big scuffle broke out."

Traore then joined the discussion with Gerard Romero on TV3's 'Fan Zone' and said: "He's a really good guy. Everything stays on the field; it was just the heat of the moment. I really didn't mean to do it; it wasn't my intention."

Cucurella then joked: "Now I'm calm because there's a screen between us. No, but it's fine. It's all in the past."

It is not the first time Cucurella has deliberately tried to wind an opposition player up. Back in March of last year, the Spain international was asked if he embraced having the 'wind-up merchant' role within the Chelsea squad, and he replied: "Yeah, well I think everyone has their role.

"I think I try to always do my best always, I try to help the team. Being a young squad [is no excuse], it doesn't matter the age. We need to show that we are ready and that we are mature in the games. This is one thing we can improve."