Chelsea winger Pedro Neto could receive a longer suspension following his dismissal during Sunday’s match against Arsenal, after the Football Association charged him with allegedly acting improperly towards referee Darren England.
Chelsea winger Pedro Neto could receive a longer suspension following his dismissal during Sunday’s match against Arsenal, after the Football Association charged him with allegedly acting improperly towards referee Darren England.
The Portuguese international was sent off after receiving two yellow cards. His second booking came after a reckless challenge on Gabriel Martinelli that stopped an Arsenal counterattack. The tackle itself clearly warranted a caution, but Neto’s behavior following the decision drew further scrutiny.
Already on a yellow card for dissent earlier in the match, the 25-year-old reacted angrily when shown the second booking. Neto appeared to direct several comments toward referee Darren England before eventually leaving the pitch.
Even as he walked along the edge of the Emirates Stadium field, the winger continued arguing. He exchanged words with fourth official Stuart Attwell before Chelsea staff eventually guided him down the tunnel.
The FA later confirmed the charge, stating Neto allegedly failed to leave the pitch quickly enough and may have used abusive language towards the match officials.
A dismissal for two yellow cards automatically results in a one-match suspension, and Neto has already served that ban by missing Chelsea’s midweek fixture against Aston Villa.
Despite the winger’s absence, Chelsea produced an impressive performance, defeating their Champions League qualification rivals 4–1 away from home. João Pedro was the standout performer, scoring a hat-trick to secure the victory.
However, the FA charge means Neto could face an additional suspension if he is found guilty of the misconduct accusation. The governing body confirmed the player has until Monday, March 9, to respond.
Any further disciplinary action would depend on the outcome of the FA’s review of the incident and Neto’s response to the charge.
Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior revealed that Neto had already apologized to his teammates for the red card. The incident has added to what has been a troubling disciplinary record for the club this season.
The sending off was Chelsea’s ninth of the campaign, or tenth if a dismissal shown to former manager Enzo Maresca is included. The growing number of red cards has become a concern within the club.
Other players sent off this season include Robert Sánchez against Manchester United, Trevoh Chalobah versus Brighton, João Pedro against Benfica, Malo Gusto in the match with Nottingham Forest, Liam Delap against Wolves, Moisés Caicedo versus Arsenal, Marc Cucurella against Fulham, and Wesley Fofana against Burnley.
Rosenior acknowledged the issue must be addressed and emphasized the importance of responsibility within the squad. He stressed that mistakes can happen, but players must acknowledge them and work to ensure they are not repeated.
The Chelsea manager added that improving discipline is essential if the team wants to progress. He pointed not only to incidents of dissent but also unnecessary fouls leading to bookings, saying the squad must now make a deliberate effort to improve their conduct.
