Chelsea are facing a points deduction after their players got involved in a brawl with Manchester City’s players during their clash in the English Premier League
According to the Mirror, Chelsea are facing the humiliating prospect of being docked points in the Premier League as a result of the incident.
Sergio Aguero’s horror tackle on David Luiz in the dying moments of the game sparked a huge brawl, during which Fernandinho was sent off for repeatedly grabbing Cesc Fabregas by the throat and pushing him over the advertising hoardings. Aguero was sent off as a result of the tackle, but the fight spilled over with several players roughing each other up.
Both Chelsea and title rivals Manchester City were charged with failing to control players in the aftermath of the incident, but it is Chelsea that face the harshest punishment according to the report.
This is due to the fact that it is the fifth time in 19 months that Chelsea have been summoned in front of disciplinary chiefs for breaching FA Rule E20 covering the behaviour of players.
The London side were found guilty and hit with fines on all four of those occasions, and this could be the most damaging punishment yet.
If the verdict goes through, it will mean that Chelsea are the first top-flight club since Arsenal and Manchester United to have points deducted for poor player discipline, with the latter two paying the price 26 years ago.
Chelsea were handed a written warning about the future conduct of their players when they appealed against a fine imposed for their part in last season’s ill-tempered London derby with Tottenham, when a similar fracas erupted.
Chelsea were fined £375,000 and their record for persistent breaches of Rule E20 was branded “abysmal” on that occasion.
The independent commission also made it abundantly clear to the Londoners that a points deduction had been considered even for that incident. Spurs only had to pay £225,000 – despite having a Premier League-record nine players booked during the game.
At the start of the season, the FA, the Premier League and the EFL joined forces to announce new measures to clamp down on “intolerable behaviour” by players after claiming that poor player conduct had reached “unacceptable levels.”
Chelsea will be hoping that they are able to successfully appeal the potential point deduction, as Antonio Conte’s men currently sit second in the table with a game in hand over Arsenal, who are tied on points at the top of the table with Chelsea. A point deduction could deal a massive blow to their place on the table.
It is understood that Chelsea are aware of the threat of a points deduction and have asked the FA for a personal hearing.