Chelsea and Forest fined for on-pitch melee

Chelsea and Nottingham Forest have been fined £40,000 and £125,000 respectively for failing to control their players in their Premier League game earlier this month.

Both clubs admitted a Football Association charge following the incident that took place in the closing stages of the 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge on 6 October.

It was sparked by Forest defender Neco Williams, who pushed Chelsea full-back Marc Cucurella into Blues manager Enzo Maresca, resulting in an on-pitch melee.

An independent regulatory commission acknowledged both clubs admitted guilt but said the punishment needs to reflect that it was still a “serious incident involving a large number of players from both sides”.

It issued a larger fine to Forest because this was the sixth such incident involving the club in the last three years, while it was just Chelsea’s third in five seasons.

The commission said Forest’s poor recent record and “lack of contrition” were aggravating factors, adding it saw no evidence the club is “addressing what is now becoming a serial problem”.

As a result, Chelsea were initially fined £50,000 and Forest £150,000, with both reduced for admitting the charge.