EPL 2016/17: Cesc Fabregas could face FA's wrath for his part in brawl against Manchester City
Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas could also face FA penalization for his role in the mass brawl at the end of the Manchester City-Chelsea game at the Etihad this past Saturday.
According to reports from The Daily Star, referee Anthony Taylor will file his report of the game today with Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero all set to face a lengthy four-match ban for his horrendous high challenge on David Luiz.
The studs-up lunge by Aguero on Luiz sparked the mass brawl between both the sides as a number of players got involved in the ensuing melee. City’s Fernandinho was also sent off and will face a three-game ban which could be extended if the FA deem it as violent conduct. This was for repeatedly grabbing Cesc Fabregas’ throat during the mass altercations, but TV footage showed that the Spaniard Fabregas had, in fact, provoked the Brazilian midfielder before he reacted.
As a result, Fabregas was also booked and it is understood that the FA are now waiting for referee, Taylor’s, report to see if the booking was in fact for his slap. If Anthony Taylor says it wasn’t then the FA will most likely charge Fabregas retrospectively for violent conduct.
Also read: Guardiola apologises for Man City's part in brawl
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola did not condemn Aguero’s tackle but said that they need to accept the incident and move on. “He was sent off, we are going to accept the ban and keep going,” said Guardiola.
This is not the first time Aguero has attacked Luiz, with another two-footed lunge by the Argentine on the Brazilian occurring in 2013 in an FA Cup Semi Final.
David Luiz, however, chose to comment negatively about Aguero’s tackle saying that such things are not part of the game, “This is not part of the beautiful football,” Luiz stated.
However, the Brazilian went on to praise the Argentine International, saying, “Aguero is an amazing player, he scores a lot, he wins a lot. It is better when you talk about Aguero to talk about good things rather than bad things.”
He continued, citing “frustration” as the cause of the incident. “It is quite normal frustration when you don’t win the game and I don’t like to speak about negative things. It is normal in football - when you win you be happy, when you lose you be sad,” he added.
Whether Fabregas also receives a ban following his role in the scuffle remains to be seen once the FA get their hands on Taylor’s match report. However, should the midfielder be deemed guilty of provocation and violent conduct, he will be set to miss Chelsea’s upcoming games against West Brom(Home) and Sunderland(Away).
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