Chelsea and Palmeiras may face substantial fines after a heated altercation between Richard Rios and Enzo Fernandez during their Club World Cup quarter-final encounter.
A heated confrontation between Richard Rios and Enzo Fernandez during Chelsea’s 2-1 win over Palmeiras at the Club World Cup could result in substantial fines for both clubs.
According to former FIFA referee Keith Hackett, the altercation, which required teammates to intervene, may lead to disciplinary charges for failing to control their players.
The match was intense from the start, with Estevao equalizing for Palmeiras before Weverton’s late own goal handed Chelsea the victory. Despite the chaos, the match official failed to issue any cards, a decision Hackett criticizes as a “clear failure in officiating.” Hackett believes the minimum expected would be two yellow cards.
Hackett warns that both clubs could face fines of up to £250,000 for failing to control their players, a standard FIFA charge for collective misconduct in international competitions. This figure is in line with similar cases, and FIFA is likely to follow a comparable approach.
While Palmeiras have no recent disciplinary history, Chelsea’s situation could be worsened by prior infractions. The London club already faced issues in the group stage, where forward Nicolas Jackson received a two-match suspension for an incident against Flamengo. This precedent could lead to a harsher penalty for Chelsea.
The potential fines come as Chelsea prepares for their semi-final match, while Palmeiras exits the tournament with the disappointment of elimination and the looming threat of financial penalties. The case remains under FIFA review, and the outcome will determine the severity of the sanctions.
Chelsea’s history of disciplinary issues, including a recent fine for breaching UEFA’s financial rules, may also influence the decision. The club was fined a total of around £36.5 million for breaking financial monitoring rules, with a potential further £52 million fine if they don’t meet the requisite financial targets over the next four years
