Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Mousa Dembele now faces an excessively long match ban as the Football Association issued a statement on his very ugly incident in Monday night’s 2-2 draw with Chelsea. The FA stated that your typical three match ban will not be sufficient in this case.
Dembele eye-gouged Chelsea striker Diego Costa. See the video over at this link, just in case you missed it. Additionally, both Chelsea and Tottenham have been charged with “failure to control their players.”
The FA statement said: “Both Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur have been charged for three breaches of FA Rule E20 for failing to control their players and/or officials.
“It follows incidents which occurred in the 45th and 87th minutes and also at the end of the game at Stamford Bridge.
“Mousa Dembele has been charged for an alleged act of violent conduct which was not seen by the match officials but caught on video during the same game.
“Further, it is alleged the player’s behaviour constituted violent conduct in circumstances where the standard punishment of three matches that would otherwise apply is clearly insufficient.”
The teams have until 6 p.m. on Monday, May 9, to respond to the charges. Dembele has until 6 p.m. on Thursday. Following the responses, specific punishments will then be handed out.
Cesc Fabregas is a player who could get hit with a mach ban as both the Evening Standard and The Times reported that witnesses saw Fabregas tap at least one Spurs backroom staff member in his genitals. (according to ESPN FC)
Chelsea Interim Manager Guus Hiddink, who made some harshly condescending remarks about Tottenham before the game, was knocked down in a postgame melee that ensued near the tunnel. (See the video of the postgame fight here)
A few players from both sides, including Gary Cahill, Harry Kane and John Terry gave the media their thoughts on the match’s emotion and physicality (read that here).
As for Lamela, “Cesc Fabregas reacted furiously in claiming Lamela had deliberately stood on his hand.”
These two London clubs played an emotional physical 2-2 draw last night that might have produced the ugliest scenes in the long history of the rivalry. Tottenham Hotspur broke a Premier League record for most bookings by one team in a single match (nine). Chelsea added three more to bring the match total to a very astounding nine!
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes regularly to the Chicago Tribune’s RedEye publication and Bold Global.
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