Thomas Tuchel and Antonio Conte are trying to take the edge off their dispute. But both are threatened with punishment. The FA have now laid charges.
“I think you guys liked it too. It was nothing bad, guys! Nothing bad,” said Thomas Tuchel after Chelsea FC’s furious 2-2 draw with Tottenham, in which Spurs equalised just before the end. No one was insulted or injured, he said. “We didn’t have a fist fight or anything like that. For me it’s not a big thing,” the German coach continued.
“I think we both enjoyed it,” Spurs coach Antonio Conte also played down the whole story. The two had already clashed during the game, and after the final whistle there was another scuffle, which is why referee Anthony Taylor gave both coaches the red card. The referee simply “didn’t understand the dynamics of the scene with his sending-offs, but that’s okay,” Conte thought.
⚪ Late dug out drama leads to both Thomas Tuchel and Antonio Conte receiving a red card pic.twitter.com/l9Zq9UZhlu
– Football Daily (@footballdaily) August 14, 2022
Clearly both coaches are downplaying the situation, neither wants to be suspended. But that’s exactly what Tuchel and Conte now face, as the FA have now officially laid charges. Both coaches have until Thursday to make an official statement to the league about the incident.
Tuchel’s words after the game could have repercussions
Tuchel could be prosecuted for his post-match statements in addition to the scuffle. He had criticised referee Anthony Taylor in no uncertain terms because both Spurs goals had been irregular in Tuchel’s view. Asked about Chelsea’s past with Taylor and a pre-season petition signed by over 80,000 fans for the referee to stop officiating Blues games, the Chelsea coach said: “Maybe that would be better. “
