Chelsea FC has been charged by the Football Association (FA) for failing to ensure their players behaved properly during their Premier League defeat at Ipswich.
The controversy erupted after Ipswich was awarded a penalty following a VAR review that confirmed Chelsea goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen fouled Liam Delap.
Several Chelsea players, including Enzo Fernandez and Levi Colwill, surrounded referee John Brooks in protest. Both players were booked for dissent, and Fernandez had to be restrained from confronting Ipswich players.
The Premier League later clarified that the referee’s penalty decision for Jorgensen’s foul on Delap was checked and confirmed by VAR, which deemed there was enough contact for the penalty to stand. Delap converted the spot kick, and Ipswich won the match 2-0.
The FA statement mentioned that Chelsea had been charged for surrounding the referee during the 10th minute of the match on December 30. The club has until January 7 to respond to the charge.
Chelsea’s head coach, Enzo Maresca, did not dispute the penalty decision after the match, acknowledging the decision despite claims it was “a bit soft.” “We have to accept it’s a penalty,” Maresca said.
