The incident happened at Craven Cottage on Monday, August 24. after Pedro Neto came on in the second half for defender Malo Gusto.
James appeared unhappy with the Portuguese winger after he failed to track back during a Fulham attack.
Cameras captured the Chelsea captain confronting Neto on the pitch, and the footage went viral on social media.
The disagreement overshadowed an impressive night for Chelsea and new manager Xabi Alonso, who secured a winning start to his Premier League career against their west London rivals.
Cole Palmer played a key role in the victory, providing the assist for Joao Pedro’s opener just 31 seconds after kick-off. Palmer later added Chelsea’s third goal, calmly finishing between Bernd Leno’s legs.
Morgan Rogers also enjoyed a memorable debut, scoring after connecting with a cutback from fellow new signing Maxence Lacroix.
Fulham fought back through teenage midfielder Josh King, who beat Robert Sanchez at his near post to bring the hosts level in the first half.
Gonzalo Garcia, another summer arrival from Real Madrid, then headed home from close range to give Fulham hope of earning a point.
Chelsea, however, managed to protect their lead and secure their first Premier League opening-day victory since the 2022-23 season.
The result was overshadowed after the match by the exchange between James and Neto.
The Chelsea captain was seen strongly reprimanding Neto over his defensive contribution.
The footage sparked mixed reactions among Chelsea supporters. Some backed James, saying a captain must demand discipline and effort from his teammates.
Others believed the confrontation should have been handled privately rather than in front of spectators and television cameras.
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