Antonio Conte and Thomas Tuchel have both been charged by the Football Association following Sunday’s controversial derby between Chelsea and Tottenham.
The two coaches were involved in several flare-ups throughout the 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge, before an incident surrounding their post-match handshake saw both sent off. And a statement released by the FA has now confirmed the two have been charged for “improper behaviour” at the end of the fixture.
“Thomas Tuchel and Antonio Conte have both been charged with a breach of FA Rule E3, following the Premier League fixture between Chelsea FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC on Sunday 14 August 2022. It is alleged that the behaviour of both managers was improper following the end of the fixture.
“Thomas Tuchel and Antonio Conte have until Thursday 18 August 2022 to provide their respective responses.”
The game ended in dramatic circumstances, when Harry Kane scored an injury-time equaliser in a game the hosts should have won comfortably. The Blues were left furious with referee Anthony Taylor, feeling both of Spurs’ goals should have been ruled out.
Chelsea felt that a foul on Kai Havertz in the lead-up to Spurs' first goal went unpunished, as Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg slammed home a long-range strike to cancel out Kalidou Koulibaly's stunning opener. Cristian Romero was then seen to pull Chelsea's new signing Marc Cucurella to the ground by his hair inside the box - right in the view of Taylor - before Harry Kane nodded home a late leveller.
VAR official Mike Dean opted against a red card for Romero, leaving Tuchel incensed after the game. Asked if it was best if Taylor shouldn't referee Chelsea again, Tuchel replied: "Maybe it would be better.
"But honestly, we also have VAR to help make the right decisions. Since when can players be pulled at their hair? Since when is that? And if he does not see it, I don't blame him.
"I didn't see it, but we have people at VAR who check this and then you see it and then how can this not be a free-kick and how can it not be a red card? How?"
Tuchel then suggested there was a feeling Taylor was working against his side, with an online petition going viral in the hours after the full-time whistle. “I don’t think that just some of the fans think that: I can assure you that the whole dressing room of us, every person thinks that.
"You know the players, they know what’s going on when they are on the pitch. They know it." It remains to be seen whether Tuchel will face any additional sanctions, with both managers now set to miss at least one of their side's respective fixtures.
