Chelsea Football Club has been formally charged by the Football Association following an investigation into the ill-tempered conclusion of their Premier League fixture against Aston Villa on 27 December 2025.
The Incident and FA Charge
The FA's charge relates to an alleged breach of Rule E20.1, concerning the conduct of players and staff positioned around the technical area after the final whistle. The governing body alleges that Chelsea failed to ensure these individuals "did not behave in an improper and/or provocative and/or abusive way."
The flashpoint occurred shortly after Villa's dramatic 2-1 comeback victory at Stamford Bridge. With tempers flaring on the touchline, a plastic bottle was allegedly thrown towards the Aston Villa bench. Some of Villa's coaching staff reacted with visible disgust, having also been doused with water, though the exact origin of the bottle remains unconfirmed.
Chelsea have until Monday, 12 January 2026, to formally respond to the charge. The match itself saw eight yellow cards issued, including one for Villa set-piece coach Austin MacPhee.
Key Match Panel's Controversial Verdict
In a separate development, the Premier League's Key Match Incidents Panel has delivered a significant post-match verdict. They concluded unanimously that Aston Villa's Austin MacPhee should have been shown a red card for an action in the sixth minute of stoppage time, for which he was only booked.
The incident occurred with Villa leading as the ball went out of play near the dugouts. As Chelsea prepared to take a throw-in, MacPhee rolled a second ball onto the pitch, deliberately delaying the restart and angering the home side. Fourth official Tim Robinson advised referee Stuart Attwell to issue a booking, but the panel believes the offence warranted a dismissal.
A Club Transformed Since the Clash
The Premier League clash proved to be one of Enzo Maresca's final games in charge, as he was sacked on New Year's Day following the 2-1 defeat. His departure triggered a major coaching overhaul at Stamford Bridge.
Liam Rosenior has since been appointed as Chelsea's new head coach, bringing with him a fresh backroom team. Assistant Justin Walker, first-team coach Kalifa Cisse, and analyst Ben Warner have joined from Chelsea's sister club Strasbourg. They are complemented by goalkeeper coach Ben Roberts and set-piece specialist Bernardo Cueva.
Rosenior's first match at the helm is an FA Cup third-round tie away to Charlton Athletic this Saturday. The former Hull City boss expressed his intensity and commitment at his inaugural press conference, stating his intention to "push the players to try and be successful."
