Chelsea F.C. and West Ham United F.C. have been hit with fines of £325,000 and £300,000 respectively after a heated altercation during their January clash in the Premier League.
The penalties were imposed after both sides admitted breaching FA regulations concerning improper and provocative conduct.
In a statement, the The Football Association confirmed that Chelsea failed to ensure their players avoided behaving in an improper and/or provocative manner in the 95th minute of the match.
West Ham, meanwhile, were charged with not preventing improper, provocative and/or violent conduct at the same stage of the game.
An independent regulatory commission labelled the clash “a serious incident” involving several Chelsea players.
The panel also pointed out that both clubs had previous violations under FA Rule E20.1, which bans conduct considered improper, offensive, violent, threatening, abusive, indecent, insulting or provocative.
Those earlier breaches were factored into the level of punishment handed down.
The confrontation unfolded deep into stoppage time at Stamford Bridge. Tempers flared after Chelsea forward Joao Pedro responded to a shove from West Ham winger Adama Traore on Blues defender Marc Cucurella.
Players from both teams rushed in, leading to chaotic scenes and a prolonged VAR check.
After reviewing the footage, referee Anthony Taylor showed a straight red card to West Ham defender Jean-Clair Todibo for grabbing Joao Pedro by the neck.
In its written findings, the commission dismissed claims that Cucurella was blameless.
It said he was conscious of his actions after conceding a corner and getting back to his feet, adding that he “sought to invite a reaction” from Traore.
Nevertheless, the panel stressed that this did not excuse what it described as Traore’s “disproportionate reaction,” identifying it as the spark that ignited the confrontation.
The commission further stated that three Chelsea players tried to incite the crowd during and towards the conclusion of the incident, conduct it said was unjustifiable regardless of earlier events.
It took note of Chelsea’s acceptance of the charge and the club’s expression of remorse.
While confirming that no other West Ham player was guilty of violent conduct beyond Todibo, the panel concluded that numerous members of their squad behaved improperly and provocatively, fuelling what it characterised as a serious and unsightly episode.
