FA hands down fines to Chelsea, Arsenal

Both Chelsea and Arsenal were charged by the FA for failing to control their players, following a very physical match several weeks ago which a struggling Chelsea side predictably won 2-0. On Thursday, the FA announced the sanctions for those charges, which resulted in fines for both clubs.

Following an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing, Chelsea and Arsenal have been fined £40,000 and £30,000 respectively and warned as to their future conduct after both clubs admitted a breach of FA Rule E20.

The charge was for failing to ensure their players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion from the 44th to the 47th minute of the game at Stamford Bridge on 19 September 2015.

The Independent Regulatory Commission considered the previous disciplinary records of both clubs in reaching its decision on sanction.

One would assume that Chelsea were fined an extra £10,000, likely for their utter failure to condemn the existence of Diego Costa. That seems about right from a governing body who didn't think that entering an opponent's technical area and shoving a rival manager deserved any punishment at all. Consistently inconsistent, indeed.