Chelsea will face UEFA fine after Barca tussle (Roundup)

Nov 1, 2006, 16:41 GMT

Barcelona, Spain - Chelsea's 2-2 draw at Barcelona on Tuesday was treated as a win by the Blues after Didier Drogba's late equalizer gave Chelsea a point and kept them in firm control of Group A in the Champions League. The defending two-time Premiership champions will pay a price for that draw, however, as the six yellow cards that Chelsea received in the match put the club in line for a fine.

A UEFA spokesman confirmed that there is a rule in place that states that there is an automatic punishment for any team who is the recipient of five or more yellow cards in one game.

UEFA views this practice as 'unsporting behavior' and the fine levied will depend on the report from match referee Stefano Farina and UEFA delegate Wolfgang Thierrichter.

Barcelona is also not without blame as both teams have been accused of regularly crowding the referee to pressurize him in a hot-tempered affair. UEFA frowns upon such behavior and has been trying to rid the game of it for years.

The poor display of sportsmanship was not just confined to the players, however, as fans of Barcelona tossed bottles at the Chelsea players after the match as they recognized their traveling supporters after the game.

Barca coach Frank Rijkaard will also be scrutinized as he had to be pulled away by captain Carlos Puyol after confronting referee Farina following the match.

© 2006 The Sports Network