Clubs fined heavily after late-game brawl erupts at Stamford Bridge, with players' conduct leading to substantial FA sanctions.
More than three weeks had passed since then, and it seemed to have been forgotten. But Chelsea and West Ham have not gotten off scot-free following the all-out brawl they were involved in at Stamford Bridge: the FA has imposed sanctions on them that, combined, amount to around €700,000.
The match was filled with tension from start to finish. But it was following Enzo Fernandez's goal in the 92nd minute that completed the 'Blues' comeback when an unrelenting war broke out in one of the corners. The main protagonists, Marc Cucurella and Adama Traore: two Barcelona academy graduates who, however, never played together at La Masia.
The two players, who had already had certain run-ins along the wing they both occupied, exploded and ended up confronting each other. Adama, it must be said, did not mince words and sent Cucurella 'flying'. From then on, the fuse was lit: Joao Pedro attacked Adama from behind, and the former Wolves and Fulham player turned on him, starring in one of the most viral scenes of the Premier League season. The look of terror on Joao Pedro's face spoke for itself as Adama headed toward him. Todibo, meanwhile, was also ultimately sent off.
"There comes a moment when I get up, and I notice I'm very close to him, and I said: ' Well, I'm going to stick my head in here to see if I can stir up a bit of controversy. He grabbed me, threw me where he could, and a good scuffle broke out," Cucurella explained days later on the program 'FanZone,' which Adama himself also appeared on.
The scene, certainly, is not what is expected from two professional teams, and the FA has deliberated on its verdict. According to the written statement, they did not ensure that their respective players maintained decorum. The charges were admitted, and they agreed to pay a fine that, combined, exceeds €700,000: €372,000 for Chelsea and €344,000 for West Ham.
"This does not justify Traore's disproportionate reaction, which sparked the scuffle. Furthermore, the commission also pointed out that three of Chelsea's players incited the crowd during and at the end of the incident. There is no justification for this behavior, whatever may have happened during the match," read the statement issued by the governing body of English football.
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