Chelsea will be forced to pay yet another FA fine – this time worth £75,000 – after becoming the first team in Premier League history to pick up six or more cautions in three separate games in a season.
Six is the magic number for initiating a fine from the English football authorities. Chelsea had to pay £25,000 after passing that limit in a 1-0 win at Bournemouth in September, and then £50,000 after they reoffended in 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest in October.
This 2-1 victory over Newcastle saw Chelsea pick up six cards – seven if you include the one shown to Enzo Maresca – so they will now have to hand over £75,000. That takes their total outlay for cautions to a whopping £150,000 this season.
None of those matches involving Chelsea felt particularly ‘dirty’, with the PGMOL’s referees this season seemingly adopting a no-nonsense approach when officiating games.
Enzo Maresca's Chelsea side have picked up more yellow cards than any other team this season
Goalkeeper Robert Sanchez was one of those cautioned for time-wasting here, while Wesley Fofana picked up a yellow for the sixth Premier League game running.
Chelsea currently sit top of the Premier League’s yellow card table on 36, leaving them on course to beat their own unwanted record set under Mauricio Pochettino last season with 105.