A heated altercation erupted in the tunnel between Newcastle and Southampton players following Fabian Schar’s red card during Newcastle’s 1-0 victory over Southampton at St James’ Park.
The incident occurred after Schar headbutted Southampton’s Ben Brereton Diaz, who went down theatrically, leading to Schar’s ejection. Brereton Diaz, making his debut for Southampton, was also shown a yellow card for his involvement in the 28th-minute confrontation.
Former player Alan Shearer criticized Brereton Diaz for what he called “shithousery,” sparking tensions as the teams headed to the locker rooms. The clash between Newcastle’s Dan Burn and Southampton’s Jan Bednarek added to the chaos, requiring intervention to keep the peace.
Southampton manager Russell Martin defended Brereton Diaz, asserting that Newcastle players would have acted similarly. Newcastle boss Eddie Howe, however, deemed Schar’s punishment harsh but acknowledged the need for discipline, hinting at a potential appeal.
The match’s intensity overshadowed Joelinton’s decisive goal, secured after Southampton goalkeeper Alex McCarthy’s error allowed Alexander Isak to assist.
