SLAPPED! CHELSEA HIT WITH MASSIVE £150K FINE AFTER ASTON VILLA TECHNICAL AREA BRAWL
Chelsea have been fined £150,000 after a bottle was thrown at Aston Villa's bench. Discover the FA verdict and Rosenior’s reaction.
Chelsea just got hit with a £150,000 fine from the Football Association after someone threw a water bottle toward Aston Villa’s dugout during their match at Stamford Bridge. This happened in late December, when Villa beat the Blues 2-1. Instead of fighting the charge, Chelsea accepted it, and now they’re on the hook for what the FA called a “dangerous act.”
Right after that 2-1 loss on December 27, 2025, a bottle flew in the direction of Unai Emery’s bench. Some of Villa’s staff were furious, since water splashed all over them.
The FA’s statement pulled no punches: “Chelsea FC has been charged with a breach of FA Rule E20.1 after the Premier League fixture against Aston Villa. The club didn’t make sure its players or staff around the technical area acted properly after the final whistle.” Chelsea had until January 12 to respond, but they didn’t contest it.
Now the verdict’s in. This week, with Enzo Maresca still in charge at the time, Chelsea got slapped with a £150,000 fine for breaking FA rules. The FA said, “Chelsea FC admitted the charge. An independent regulatory commission has now imposed a £150,000 fine following a hearing. You can read their written reasons below.”
According to the report, video footage caught the bottle coming from Chelsea’s bench, missing a Villa substitute by inches. The Commission called the act “dangerous” and said it could have easily set off the Villa staff.
The FA didn’t mince words: “Throwing the bottle into Villa’s technical area was a very serious incident. The footage shows the bottle leaving Chelsea’s dugout at speed, passing close to a Villa substitute’s head, and landing in their area. It was only luck that nobody got hit. If a fan had done this, it’d be called serious violence—something football can’t tolerate. When someone at the top level of English football acts this way, it sets a terrible example.”
So, what’s next? Liam Rosenior’s Chelsea, sitting sixth in the league, head across town to face Crystal Palace on Sunday. Villa, who are third, travel up to Newcastle the same day.
LIAM ROSENIOR’S "DETAILED TALKS" WITH CHELSEA LEADERSHIP REVEAL AGGRESSIVE SUMMER TRANSFER STRATEGY
Liam Rosenior confirms no Chelsea players want to leave, including Enzo Fernandez and Cole Palmer, despite UCL exit.
Liam Rosenior is currently engaged in thorough discussions with Chelsea’s leadership about their plans for the summer transfer window. Interestingly, none of the players has approached him expressing a desire to leave.
After Chelsea’s exit from the Champions League last-16 against Paris Saint-Germain, speculation swirled around Enzo Fernandez’s future, while names like Cole Palmer and Moises Caicedo have also been linked with moves away since Rosenior took charge in January. Ahead of their trip to Everton, Rosenior addressed questions about possible departures if the team misses out on Europe’s top competition again. He also spoke about the ongoing efforts to bring new players in.
“We're having very detailed talks about where we need to strengthen,” he said, referring to conversations with the sporting director team, headed by Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart. “I’ve shared my thoughts on what’s needed, and we’re mostly aligned on the approach, which is encouraging. But the priority is also handling the present properly. It’s crucial to be in a good spot now. Planning is important, but so is winning in the moment. That’s why I’m here, and I’m having positive discussions with ownership and the sporting directors about it.”
Rosenior emphasised that key players like Enzo Fernández want to remain at Chelsea. After Fernandez’s recent interview with ESPN Argentina, where he was noncommittal about his future following the heavy loss to PSG, Rosenior reached out to him personally.
“Our plans don’t hinge solely on qualifying for the Champions League; there are many variables,” Rosenior explained. “We need to make the best of the situation we’re in and stay as strong as possible. I maintain a close relationship with the players; we talk beyond football about their families and their lives. I’m particularly close with Enzo and the others. Since I arrived, no one has told me they want to leave in the summer. The focus is really on improving together as a team and figuring out what it takes to win right now.”
When asked specifically if that applies to Fernandez, Palmer, and Caicedo, Rosenior was clear: “They love it here.”
WHY ENZO FERNANDEZ REFUSES TO COMMIT TO CHELSEA’S FUTURE PROJECT
Enzo Fernandez has sparked Chelsea exit fears after refusing to commit to his future following a 2-8 defeat to PSG.
Chelsea fans barely had time to process a brutal 8-2 Champions League thrashing by PSG on Tuesday when vice-captain Enzo Fernandez stirred things up even more. ESPN Argentina asked him about his future, and instead of assurance, Fernandez left everyone guessing about whether he’d still be at Stamford Bridge next season.
His answer? “I don’t know. There are eight games left, and the FA Cup. There’s the World Cup, and then we’ll see.” Not exactly what supporters needed to hear after a rough night. Honestly, Enzo, now’s probably not the best time for uncertainty.
People have been gossiping about Fernandez’s next move for a while now. Real Madrid and PSG keep cropping up as possible destinations, despite Chelsea sources insisting they won’t sell him. He’s locked into a contract until 2032, but if he pushes for an exit, who knows if that changes.
Fernandez holds a hefty price tag of £107 million; when he arrived in January 2023, it was a British record at the time. He’s backed it up this season, stacking up 12 goals, 6 assists, and playing more minutes than anyone else on the squad.
Still, Chelsea has been searching for someone who can play that No. 10 role where Fernandez has spent most of the season. Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers is on their wishlist, though nothing’s happened yet. Rogers, 23 and once a Manchester City academy kid, has been lighting it up at Villa lately. He signed a contract extension in November, but rumours about his future just won’t die.
Rogers is definitely on Chelsea’s radar. If Fernandez leaves this summer, and really, that’s still wide open; Rogers could be a target.
You can expect Chelsea to be busy in the market soon. They need a centre-back after missing out on Jeremy Jacquet in January. Douglas Luiz was briefly considered but wound up at Villa, so midfield is still in the mix. Plus, given their attacking troubles this season, they’ll be looking to upgrade up front too.
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