Chelsea FC Assistant Rui Faria Given Six Match Ban
Chelsea FC assistant Rui Faria was handed a six match ban after his touchline blowup at referee Mike Dean and his assistant during the 2-1 loss to Sunderland FC in the Premier League. What makes this ban is unique is that this is a stadium ban rather than just a traditional touchline ban so Faria can not even come to the matches. Faria also received a £30,000 fine and has been warned against any future conduct.
Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew recently received a seven match ban for headbutting a Hull City player but only received a three match stadium ban and the rest of the ban was served from the director’s box. It is understandable that a coach would receive a lengthier ban for striking a coach rather than a player but Pardew also received only a two match ban for shoving a linesman early in the season. The problem is not with the punishment for Rui Faria but rather the inconsistency between the punishments.
The FA official statement read:
“Following an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing, Chelsea coach Rui Faria has been given a six-match stadium ban with immediate effect, subject to any appeal, after he admitted two breaches of FA Rules. The first breach was that Faria used abusive and/or insulting words towards the fourth official during Chelsea’s game against Sunderland on 19 April 2014. The second breach was that his behaviour following the match referee’s request that he leave the technical area amounted to improper conduct. Faria, who requested a non-personal hearing, was also fined £30,000 and warned as to his future conduct.”
The main difference is that while Rui Faria may have acted unprofessionally, he never made contact with the official while Pardew physically pushed a linesman. The problem of inconsistency in punishments by the FA has frustrated Chelsea fans and simply lends further credence to the theory that the FA is out to get the Blues. Hopefully that is not the case but in this particular case, Faria’s punishment will be for the next two matches and will carry on the first four domestic matches of next season.
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