Chelsea to face fine over cards
Chelsea will be fined for “unsporting behaviour” after collecting six bookings in their stormy 2-2 Champions League draw in Barcelona.
A UEFA spokesman confirmed there is an automatic punishment for any team shown five or more yellow cards in one game.
The size of the fine will depend on the detail in the reports from referee Stefano Farina and UEFA delegate at the game, Wolfgang Thierrichter.
The reports from Farina and Thierrichter will be examined for comments about the behaviour of players from both teams who regularly crowded the referee to pressurise him in an ill-tempered game. UEFA are determined to stamp out this trend.
Barcelona could also be in trouble after their fans hurled bottles down on the Chelsea players as they applauded the travelling supporters in the top tier of the Nou Camp after the final whistle.
Blues midfielder Frank Lampard said: “I knew things were raining down but none of them hit me. There was a bit of banter with the Spanish fans and that was good.”
UEFA will also wait to see if Farina mentions Frank Rijkaard’s post-match antics in his report or Jose Mourinho’s elaborate touchline celebrations when Didier Drogba scored the last-gasp equaliser.
Barca boss Rijkaard marched angrily onto the pitch to confront the referee after the game and had to be pulled away by his captain Carles Puyol.
