OFFICIAL: Coach Enzo Maresca receives a heavy punishment in England

Coach Enzo Maresca was given a one-game ban and fined £8,000 by the FA due to his excessive celebration in Chelsea’s dramatic 2-1 win against Liverpool.

Chelsea’s Enzo Maresca has been penalized by the English Football Association (FA) following his emotional celebration in the intense Premier League clash against Liverpool in Round 7. According to the official statement, the Italian coach is banned from the touchline for one match and fined £8,000 for “improper conduct” during the game on October 4th.

The match at Stamford Bridge was seen as a pivotal moment in Chelsea’s season. Prior to this, “The Blues” had suffered two consecutive defeats against Manchester United and Brighton & Hove Albion, which had dampened the team’s morale. Therefore, hosting the reigning champions Liverpool was a crucial test for Maresca’s squad.

The match remained tense and dramatic until the final moments. At the 96th minute, young talent Estevao Willian scored the decisive goal to seal a 2-1 victory for Chelsea, igniting wild celebrations at Stamford Bridge. Overcome with excitement, Coach Maresca ran along the sideline, joining the players in celebration and even embracing fans in the front row, reminiscent of José Mourinho’s famously passionate celebrations.

However, that joy came at a cost. Earlier, Maresca had been shown a yellow card for dissent. This exuberant celebration earned him a second yellow card, resulting in a direct red card and his dismissal from the technical area for the rest of the match.

After reviewing the incident, the FA imposed a one-match touchline ban and an £8,000 fine, citing “unsuitable behavior, language, or attitude” during the game. Maresca admitted his offense and accepted the standard punishment without appeal.

The sanction means the 45-year-old manager will be absent from the technical area during Chelsea’s upcoming away game against Nottingham Forest this weekend.

Following the Forest fixture, Chelsea will quickly face their third Champions League group stage match against Ajax. After a shaky start in Europe, “The Blues” are eager to maintain consistent form to stay competitive in the race for knockout qualification.

The victory over Liverpool has boosted Chelsea’s confidence, but for Maresca, it also serves as a reminder that emotions sometimes need to be controlled, even when triumph feels sweetest.