FA fine Forest and Chelsea for pitchside brawl

LONDON: Nottingham Forest and Chelsea were fined by the FA on Monday after their players were involved in a mass confrontation during a 1-1 Premier League draw earlier this month.

Forest were fined £125,000 ($162,300) and Chelsea £40,000 respectively.

“It was alleged that Nottingham Forest and Chelsea failed to ensure that their players did not behave in an inappropriate and/or provocative manner in the 88th minute and both clubs accepted this allegation,” the FA statement said.

During the match on 6 October at Stamford Bridge, Forest player Neco Williams sparked an on-field confrontation after his challenge on Chelsea’s Mark Cucurella sent the defender into the technical area, upending his coach Enzo Marescu.

Several players then engaged in melees, including some on the bench, pushing each other, before referee Chris Kavanagh regained control. A total of 11 yellow cards were received in the match.

Earlier this month, Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis was given a five-match stadium ban for spitting on the ground as match officials passed by in the tunnel during the 1-0 home defeat to Fulham in the Premier League on September 28.

($1 = 0.7702 pounds)