Chelsea fined for behaviour in Man Utd defeat

 Chelsea have been fined by the Football Association after picking up a string of bookings against Manchester United last weekend and it is not the first time yellow cards have hit them in the pocket.

It was a wild contest at Old Trafford last Saturday which the Red Devils won 2-1, with Blues goalkeeper Robert Sanchez shown a straight red card after just five minutes.

The driving Manchester rain only added to the chaotic vibe and Chelsea were not the only side guilty of ill-discipline as Casemiro was shown a second yellow card just before half-time.

Those two cards for the Brazilian were the only ones shown to Manchester United players, though, while Chelsea racked up six over the contest.

Marc Cucurella, Trevoh Chalobah, Enzo Fernandez, Tosin Adarabioyo and Tyrique George were all booked, on top of their goalkeeper being shown a straight red.

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As confirmed by the Daily Mail, that has led to a fine of £25,000 as the FA dish out a financial punishment when a team hits six cards in a match.

The west London club is well aware of these rules as they were fined three times for hitting the six-card mark last season.

The penalties increased each time they did so, as the Blues were initially fined £25,000 for receiving eight yellow cards against Bournemouth in September 2024.

That bumped up to a £50,000 fine for six bookings against Nottingham Forest in October and then £75,000 for six more against Newcastle later the same month.

Chelsea do seem to have a discipline issue, having received 12 yellow cards and one red card in their five games so far this season.

Only four clubs have received more bookings than the Blues: Bournemouth (14), Crystal Palace (13), Everton (13) and Brighton (13) but none of those four sides have had a player see red yet this campaign.

Chelsea have received more yellow cards than any other side in both the previous two seasons.

After their expensive string of bookings last season, manager Enzo Maresca was asked if his players had a discipline problem but played down the issue.

‘It’s something we need to improve but overall, I like the team the way they are fighting,’ he said last October. ‘I like the way they are becoming a team in these kinds of things. I don’t see any problems about that.

For sure, there are things that we can control and do better, for sure no doubt, and probably this is one of the things. But if you ask me about the team spirit, the way they are fighting together, the way they are doing things together, I’m very happy.’

On the fines, he added: ‘I am not going to pay it!’

Chelsea are back in Premier League action on Saturday afternoon at home to Brighton and, despite seeing a flurry of cards last weekend, do not have any players suspended.

Sanchez served his ban in the Carabao Cup clash with Lincoln City in midweek and is available to return against the Seagulls.