Several of Villa's first-team stars had to be pulled apart in the restaurant at an exclusive spa resort as tempers frayed following a meal.
Problems arose after a day of paint-balling was followed by a pampering session at the luxurious Champneys Springs resort in rural Leicestershire when what started as a verbal disagreement got out of hand.
Frustration: Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier has endured a disappointing first season
The players involved stopped short of trading punches and it is understood that no member of the public was involved, but it is yet another unwanted chapter in a season that is rapidly falling apart at the seams.
Houllier was present during the day but had travelled with assistant manager Gary McAllister to watch Wednesday night's Champions League clash between Spurs and AC Milan at White Hart Lane.
He was furious to learn that a few of his players had stepped out of line and has launched an immediate investigation.
Another loss: Villa are struggling in the Premier League and crashed to defeat at Bolton last weekend
Houllier takes a hard line when it comes to players drinking and he will have been less than impressed at a time when he is still struggling to overcome the fall-out from last week's FA Cup loss against Manchester City.
He made several surprising changes to a side that slipped to defeat in the tie.
Houllier admitted earlier this week that Villa still need 10 points to be safe from relegation. 'We are not safe,' he said. 'I keep my feet on the ground and we need 10 points minimum to be safe.'
A Villa spokesman denied that there had been any violence but said: 'The club is aware there has been an incident. We have launched an investigation in line with our internal disciplinary procedures.'
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Source: Daily Mail
Source: Daily Mail