Chelsea and Arsenal were both fined by the Football Association on Thursday (Oct 8) following the behaviour of their players in last month’s ill-tempered Premier League clash at Stamford Bridge.

Arsenal had Brazilian defender Gabriel and Spanish midfielder Santi Cazorla sent off as champions Chelsea won 2-0 against their London rivals.

But Gabriel’s red card was later rescinded while Chelsea striker Diego Costa was subsequently handed a three-match ban after his tussle with the centre-back and Gunners team-mate Laurent Koscielny, which led to the FA charging both clubs with failure to control their players.

“Following an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing, Chelsea and Arsenal have been fined £40,000 and £30,000 respectively and warned as to their future conduct after both clubs admitted a breach of FA Rule E20,” an FA statement read.

“The charge was for failing to ensure their players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion from the 44th to the 47th minute of the game at Stamford Bridge on 19 September 2015. The Independent Regulatory Commission considered the previous disciplinary records of both clubs in reaching its decision on sanction.”

After referee Martin Atkinson had initially shown Gabriel and Costa the yellow card, Gabriel was dismissed having appeared to kick out at the striker. Following Gabriel’s red card, Chelsea scored twice in the second half through Kurt Zouma and Eden Hazard before Cazorla was also sent off.

Gabriel subsequently had his dismissal overturned, but was still handed a one-match ban for his reaction to the decision – while Costa, who escaped immediate punishment, was suspended for three games having been found guilty on a charge of violent conduct.

Source AFP