Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has been charged by the Football Association with alleged improper conduct over his comments about referee Anthony Taylor following the recent 2-2 draw with Tottenham.
A passionate London derby saw Spurs twice fight back to earn a point, and both goals were mired in controversy with Kai Havertz fouled in the build-up to the first equaliser - which referee Anthony Taylor saw no fault with - and Cristian Romero pulling Marc Cucurella’s hair before the corner that led to Harry Kane’s 96th-minute header - which Video Assistant Referee Mike Dean did not penalise.
Tuchel and Antonio Conte were then embroiled in a handshake spat at full-time, in which Tuchel refused to let go of his counterpart’s hand and demanded he look him in the eyes, exuberant celebrations from the pair after their teams’ goals.
Asked after the game if Tuchel believed Taylor should not be involved in future Chelsea games, the boss replied: “Maybe that would be better. Maybe it would be better but we also have VAR to help make the right decisions.
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 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.
