Chelsea FC Fined for Breach of FA Rules Following Incident at Aston Villa Match

Following Chelsea’s 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa in the Premier League on December 27, 2025, an incident occurred where a bottle was reportedly thrown towards Unai Emery’s coaching staff. This action provoked anger among Villa’s personnel, who were splashed with water as a result.

In response, the Football Association (FA) announced that Chelsea FC had been charged with a violation of FA Rule E20.1. The charge stemmed from the club’s failure to ensure that its players and other personnel situated around the technical area behaved in a manner that was neither improper nor provocative following the match’s conclusion. Chelsea has until January 12, 2026, to submit their formal response.

This week, the outcome of the investigation was revealed, with Chelsea receiving a sanction for the breach and being fined £150,000. On Friday, the FA released a statement confirming the penalty, which followed Chelsea’s admission of the charge. An independent Regulatory Commission conducted a hearing, leading to the imposition of the fine.

The Commission’s report indicated that video evidence showed the bottle being thrown from Chelsea’s bench, narrowly missing an unnamed Aston Villa substitute. The act was deemed “dangerous” and had the potential to incite a reaction from the opposition’s staff.

The FA emphasized the seriousness of the incident, describing the act of throwing the bottle into the AVFC technical area as very serious. The footage demonstrated that the bottle was ejected with considerable force, posing a risk to those in the vicinity. The Commission stated that had a spectator committed such an act, it would be classified as a serious act of violence, intolerable in the context of a football match. The behavior displayed by individuals involved in professional football is expected to uphold standards of respect and safety.

Amidst this controversy, Chelsea, currently sixth in the Premier League, is set to face Crystal Palace, while Aston Villa, positioned third, prepares to visit Newcastle United, both matches taking place on Sunday.