Chelsea hit with massive fine after breaking Premier League record

Chelsea have etched their name in Premier League history, but not for the reasons they would have preferred. This season, the Blues became the first team to receive six or more yellow cards in three separate matches within a single campaign.

This undesirable record has resulted in a significant financial penalty, with the Football Association slapping a £75,000 fine on the club following their latest disciplinary breach during a 2-1 victory over Newcastle United at Stamford Bridge.

Mounting fines and cautions

During the match against Newcastle, six Chelsea players found themselves on referee Simon Hooper's naughty list. Wesley Fofana was the first to be booked in the 11th minute, setting the tone for what would become a caution-filled encounter. Romeo Lavia joined him after halftime, and as the match approached its climax, Noni Madueke, Robert Sanchez, and Pedro Neto all received yellow cards. Even manager Enzo Maresca and Christopher Nkunku were not immune, each receiving bookings during injury time.

This wasn't an isolated incident for Chelsea this season. Similar situations occurred in matches against Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest, leading to fines of £25,000 and £50,000, respectively. With the addition of the £75,000 penalty from the Newcastle game, Chelsea's total fines for disciplinary issues this season have reached a staggering £150,000.

Winning on the pitch, losing in discipline

Despite their struggles with discipline, Chelsea managed to secure a win against Newcastle. Nicolas Jackson opened the scoring in the 18th minute after Cole Palmer's early goal was disallowed by VAR. Although Alexander Isak equalised for Newcastle, Palmer's strike from inside the penalty area ultimately clinched victory for Chelsea.

The Blues' disciplinary record now stands at an alarming 36 yellow cards this season. This tally puts them seven cards ahead of Southampton and Wolves, who each have 29. Defenders Wesley Fofana and Marc Cucurella lead Chelsea's caution count with six and five yellow cards, respectively.

The road ahead: Challenges and optimism

While Chelsea have managed to avoid red cards so far this season, they are on track to surpass their previous record of 105 yellow cards set under Mauricio Pochettino. This trend raises concerns about their ability to maintain discipline on the field and avoid further costly penalties that could impact both their performance and financial health.

Despite these challenges, manager Enzo Maresca remains hopeful about his team's progress. He expressed satisfaction with their development over the past three months and emphasised that while fans can enjoy dreaming of success, there is still room for improvement. The focus remains on understanding and refining their gameplay to achieve better results in future matches.