Chelsea Again? Blues Set For Hefty Fine After Picking up Six Bookings Against Forest
Chelsea faces another FA rap with a £50,000 fine on the way for the six yellow cards their players picked up in Sunday's ill-disciplined draw with Nottingham Forest.
As reoffenders, that is double the £25,000 punishment paid by the Blues for receiving six or more cautions in last month’s trip to Bournemouth, while Marc Cucurella and Wesley Fofana are both now banned for Chelsea's next match with Liverpool after becoming the Premier League's first players to rack up five yellows this season.
Nicolas Jackson will hope to escape retrospective punishment for seemingly shoving Forest's Morato in the face during one manic melee after VAR decided it was not violent conduct.
Yet both clubs could face FA charges for failing to control their players during that altercation, which was sparked by Neco Williams when he pushed Cucurella into Enzo Maresca, forcing the Chelsea head coach to fall over.
Chelsea at least finished the match with 11 men, unlike Forest, who saw James Ward-Prowse dismissed for two cynical yellows.
Despite having the Premier League's worst disciplinary record, Maresca defended the spirit shown by his team as he said. ‘I like the team the way they are fighting. I like how they are becoming a team in these kinds of things. I don’t see any problems.’
Maresca’s perspective on the situation underscores the fine line between competitive intensity and reckless behaviour. While fighting for every ball and standing up for teammates is often seen as a positive trait in football, crossing the line into unsportsmanlike conduct can have severe consequences. For Chelsea, the challenge will be finding the balance between maintaining their fighting spirit and avoiding unnecessary disciplinary issues that can derail their season.
Nuno Espirito Santo added: ‘It is very hard for the players to control their emotions, very hard for us as managers. We need the referees to understand.’
The upcoming match against Liverpool will be a significant test of Chelsea’s resilience. With key players suspended and disciplinary concerns hanging over the team, the pressure will be on Maresca to find a way to navigate the challenges ahead. Liverpool, known for their attacking prowess and high-energy style of play, will likely look to exploit any weaknesses in Chelsea’s defence, especially with Cucurella and Fofana unavailable.
