Clubs facing heavy fi nes
not singled out for punishment for appearing to tread on Chelsea midfi elder Cesc Fabregas’s hand, and team- mates Danny Rose and Michel Vorm avoided censure for their parts in the fracas at the end of the game.
Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino has also escaped any fi ne or touchline ban after twice coming onto the pitch, the FA regarding the Argentine’s interventions as essentially peacemaking efforts.
Fabregas, above, was also spared any individual punishment for his actions in the melee at the end of the game, when witnesses claim he slapped the groins of several Spurs players and offi cials. Both clubs have already been fi ned for failing to control players once this season, Spurs against West Brom in December and Chelsea against the same club in January, so the latest fi nes will be hefty.
After two days of studying reports and video evidence, the FA regard the failing- tocontrol charges against the clubs to be suffi cient to cover all those separate incidents.
Tottenham have automatically been fi ned £ 25,000 for having nine players booked in the match, in which Eden Hazard’s late equaliser killed off their title hopes.
Three Chelsea players were cautioned by referee Mark Clattenburg.
Dembele has until 6pm tonight to respond to his charge and the clubs until 6pm on Monday. FORMER England midfi elder Joe Cole, 34, is poised to join Tampa Bay Rowdies in the United States.
Cole, right, will move to the second- tier North American Soccer League in the summer when his contract ends at Coventry, who he joined from Aston Villa in January .
“My desire to win matches is still there, I’m not coming for an extended holiday,” he said.
“I’ve always envisaged playing in the USA at some point in my life.”
BRETT WILLIAMS’ fi rst- half strike gave Forest Green Rovers a 1- 0 victory at Dover Athletic last night in the fi rst leg of their National League play- off semi- fi nal.