Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel charged with improper conduct, fined and given a suspended touchline ban
- Scott Allen
- 22 August 2022
Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel has been charged with alleged improper conduct in relation to comments he made after the Premier League game against Tottenham.
The Chelsea boss admitted "maybe it would be better" if referee Anthony Taylor did not referee the Blues again, after a controversial day for the officials in the 2-2 derby draw at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, August 14.
Tuchel was also hit with a £35,000 fine and a suspended one-match touchline ban for his dugout spats with Spurs boss Antonio Conte that saw the two coaches sent off in west London.
The German coach has now been charged with improper conduct through either implying bias, questioning a referee's integrity or bringing the game into disrepute.
"Thomas Tuchel has been charged with a breach of FA Rule E3 in relation to comments that he made after Chelsea FC's Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur FC on Sunday 14 August 2022," said an FA spokesperson.
"It is alleged that the manager's comments in his post-match press conference constitute improper conduct as contrary to FA Rule E3.1 they imply bias and/or question the integrity of the match referee, and/or bring the game into disrepute.
"Thomas Tuchel has until Thursday, August 25, 2022 to provide a response to this charge."
Tuchel was left incensed by Tottenham battling back for a draw with Harry Kane's added-time header.
The Blues boss felt Richarlison was offside for Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg's Spurs opener, before lamenting Cristian Romero's hair pull on Marc Cucurella before the visitors' second effort.
Romero's challenge on Cucurella was checked and dismissed by VAR, only for Spurs to score from the corner to steal the draw.
Mike Dean, who was in charge of VAR for the game, later admitted his error in not ordering referee Taylor to review the incident on the pitchside monitor, which could have led to a red card for Romero.
Straight after the Tottenham match, Tuchel admitted he felt referee Taylor should perhaps be taken off Chelsea duties in future.
When asked if Taylor should not referee Chelsea again, Tuchel replied: "Maybe it would be better, maybe it would be better.
"But honestly we also have VAR to help make the right decisions. Since when can players have their hair pulled, since when is that?"
When asked again about Chelsea supporters' concerns about Taylor's officiating, Tuchel continued: "I don't think that just some of the fans think that: I can assure you that the whole dressing room of us, every person thinks that.
"Not only the fans. You know the players, they know what's going on when they are on the pitch. They know it."
Asked if the players are worried when Taylor is in charge, Tuchel added: "Yeah, of course."
