Following Chelsea’s scuffle with Manchester City players at the end of last week’s match at the Etihad, there have been talks of a possible points deduction for Antonio Conte’s men. Chelsea have breached rule E20 of the FA 5 times in 19 months, and on count of being serial offenders, may see points being docked. Rule E20 of the FA mainly covers player misconduct and mass confrontations.
The fracas against City started with a bad challenge from Sergio Aguero on David Luiz in the dying minutes, who saw red from the referee. The ensuing scuffle between the two players saw Fernandinho also get sent off for grabbing Cesc Fabregas by the neck.
Conte, however, found the possibility of a point deduction to be a joke. “For me, if you are involved in a situation where you are not at fault, why must you pay?” said the Italian gaffer. “Why? I don’t understand this. At the end of the Manchester City game, my players tried to keep their calm. It would be a joke. You must be honest and understand which team is at fault.”
Chelsea’s last breach of conduct came last May, at the infamous Battle of the Bridge, when tensions were high against Tottenham as the Blues came back from two goals down to level scores and end Tottenham’s chances of winning the title.
Both Tottenham and Chelsea were penalised after the match, with the latter being fined a heftier sum. FA’s Independent disciplinary commission had labelled Chelsea’s persistent breaking of rules as ‘abysmal.’ “The time cannot be too far distant when a commission concludes the only proper sanction is a points deduction,” the commission had concluded back in May.
Previous incidents included the Costa-Gabriel bust-up at the Bridge against Arsenal. However, this was the first such breach of rules since the Italian, Conte, took over at Stamford Bridge. The Italian continued his lament, stating that the team had improved in his regime and were working on correcting their behaviour.
“We are trying to improve all aspects, and also this. We had a bad record in the past, but now we are different. I don’t know what happened in the past. I know what is happening in the present, and that is why I ask if this is a joke or not. After the game between City and Chelsea, you could see very clearly that my players tried to keep their calm.”
Diego Costa’s late winner against West Brom meant that Chelsea won their ninth match on the trot and went 3 points clear on the top of the table again. The Blues are closing in on Arsenal’s record of 14 wins in a row. However, Conte is more focused on his team’s berth on top of the table than anything else.
“I’m not interested in the record,” Conte said. “All I want is to gain three points and stay top of the table, fighting for something important.” A loss and a draw for City and Liverpool this weekend means it was a good weekend for the Blues and they will be hoping that the FA see the incident in the same light as Antonio Conte did, so as to keep their festive season cheerful.
