As the new 2026-27 Premier League campaign draws closer, clubs have been working through their usual schedule of pre-season friendlies. But despite their name, several of these games have been anything but friendly, with reckless tackles, dismissals and heated confrontations becoming a recurring theme.Tonali sparks troubleSandro Tonali wasted little time showing his combative side in a Tottenham shirt during their behind-closed-doors meeting with Getafe.The £100million summer signing from Newcastle reacted angrily after a late challenge from Getafe midfielder Mario Martin. Rather than letting the incident go, Tonali followed the Spaniard up the pitch before confronting him and making contact with his chest.Players from both sides quickly became involved, although Tottenham veterans Ben Davies and new arrivals Robertson and Van Hecke stepped in to calm things down.🎥 Sandro Tonali scuffle in pre-season 🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/XTGblesDyj— The Spurs Watch (@TheSpursWatch) August 8, 2026 Elanga suffers nasty challengeAnthony Elanga's preparations for the new campaign were interrupted in worrying fashion when the Newcastle winger had to be carried off on a stretcher after a brutal challenge from Valencia captain Jose Gaya.The defender was shown a straight red card, with the tackle immediately triggering a furious reaction from players on both teams. Elanga looked visibly shaken as he left the pitch, although Newcastle boss Matthias Jaissle later eased concerns by revealing that the injury was not as serious as initially feared.With several of Newcastle's key players having departed over the past year, the Magpies will be hoping Elanga can play a major role as they attempt to bounce back from last season's disappointing 12th-place finish.Newcastle furious after shocking red card challenge by Valencia's Jose Gaya injures Anthony Elanga pic.twitter.com/mAYiv5FySa— The Sun Football ⚽ (@TheSunFootball) August 8, 2026 Chelsea friendly descends into chaosChelsea's pre-season tour of the Far East also produced an ugly moment during their clash with Johor DT in Malaysia.Striker Liam Delap was on the receiving end of a dangerous challenge from defender Antonio Cristian in a match already filled with physical battles, shirt pulling and heated exchanges.Things took an unusual turn after the final whistle when Johor DT refused to take part in the penalty shootout that has become increasingly common during pre-season. The bizarre conclusion followed a six-goal encounter that also produced seven yellow cards.Chelsea set-piece coach Austin MacPhee was also involved in a heated exchange with a member of the opposition bench as the teams headed towards the tunnel.El #Johor vs #Chelsea fue…🅰️ Un partido amistoso 🤝🏻🅱️ Una batalla ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/oC59Gxk9xR— Mr. Asubío (@MrAsubio) August 10, 2026 Two players sent off in SpainBournemouth's meeting with Real Betis descended into a full-scale confrontation, with Alex Scott and former Manchester United forward Antony both receiving red cards.The trouble began after Colombian midfielder Nelson Deossa fired the ball at Bournemouth defender Diakite, sparking an angry reaction from both sets of players. The situation quickly spiralled, with Scott and Antony eventually dismissed after shoving each other during the melee.The Cherries can at least take comfort from the fact that pre-season dismissals do not carry over into competitive fixtures, meaning Antony will be available for Bournemouth's Premier League opener against Manchester City.🚨🏴🇪🇸 BOTH Alex Scott & Antony has been sent off for Real Betis and AFC Bournemouth respectively 😬🟥🟥 pic.twitter.com/qKUNcy0Ro0— Accurate Football (@Accurate_Foot23) August 8, 2026 Arbeloa loses his temperFulham's penultimate pre-season fixture produced another extraordinary scene, this time involving new manager Alvaro Arbeloa.After the hosts were awarded a controversial 89th-minute penalty, Arbeloa could be seen on the bench shaking his head in disbelief. Following the final whistle, the Spaniard stormed onto the pitch to confront the referee over the decision and was subsequently sent off.His players then followed him down the tunnel, refusing to take part in the scheduled penalty shootout and effectively forfeiting the contest.After a turbulent spell at Real Madrid last season, Arbeloa has arrived in west London with plenty to prove. His appointment has already raised questions given his limited managerial experience, particularly following the departures of key players such as Harry Wilson and Raul Jimenez.Penalty shootout with no opponent!? Malaga-Fulham friendly produces bizarre momentLiverpool's captaincy disputeLiverpool's pre-season clash with Wrexham in the United States also ended with tensions inside the Reds' own squad.A disagreement broke out after Dominik Szoboszlai, who had been wearing the captain's armband, was substituted and passed it to Kostas Tsimikas.Curtis Jones reportedly confronted Szoboszlai after the final whistle over the decision, with tensions escalating between the three players. The situation culminated in Tsimikas dramatically throwing the armband onto the ground.Liverpool are hoping for a much stronger campaign after a disappointing season under Slot, but with experienced figures such as Salah and Robertson no longer at the club, the incident raises questions about leadership within the squad.Tensions boil over! Liverpool stars involved in heated on-pitch row after Wrexham winPre-season is usually about fitness, tactics and building confidence. This summer, however, Premier League clubs have provided plenty of evidence that the phrase “friendly match” does not always mean friendly.##NAJAVA_MECA_9895115##