Chelsea winger Pedro Neto has been slapped with an extra one-match ban and a hefty £70,000 fine by the Football Association following his dramatic red card in the Premier League clash against Arsenal.
The Portugal international picked up two yellow cards in the second half of Chelsea’s 2-1 defeat at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, 1 March, resulting in his dismissal. However, instead of immediately heading for the tunnel, Neto lingered on the pitch, angrily confronting the match officials.
Although he had already served the automatic one-game suspension for the red card in Chelsea’s subsequent Premier League fixture against Aston Villa, the FA charged him separately for “misconduct” over his behaviour after the sending-off.
The governing body claimed the winger acted improperly by failing to leave the field promptly and allegedly directing “abusive words” towards the officials in the 70th minute.
In an official statement, the FA confirmed: “Pedro Neto has been given a one-match suspension and a £70,000 fine for misconduct that occurred after he was sent off in Chelsea’s Premier League match against Arsenal on Sunday, 1 March.
“It was alleged that the player acted in an improper manner by failing to leave the pitch promptly and/or using abusive words towards the match official/s following his dismissal in the 70th minute.
“Pedro Neto subsequently admitted the charge against him. An independent Regulatory Commission imposed these sanctions following a hearing, and the written reasons for its decisions will be published in due course.”
The fresh punishment means Neto will now miss Chelsea’s crucial Premier League home game against Newcastle United this Saturday.
To make matters worse for the Blues, the 25-year-old is also facing the possibility of sitting out the Champions League round-of-16 second leg against Paris Saint-Germain.
UEFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against Neto for an incident late in the Arsenal match where he appeared to push a ball boy – an action he has already publicly apologised for. Under UEFA regulations, he remains at risk of a further one-match European ban.
Chelsea fans will be hoping this latest setback is the final chapter in what has been a disastrous afternoon in London for Pedro Neto.