London, Sep 28 (IANS) Chelsea is ready to face the English Football Association’s (FA) charges over the conduct of their players, the club’s website said.
“Chelsea Football Club will be strongly defending the two charges issued by the Football Association today and will be considering that defence until we have to respond Oct 12,” it said Thursday in a statement.
The FA has charged Chelsea with failing to control their players during Sunday’s 0-2 Premier League defeat at the hands of Manchester United at Old Trafford.
The FA said in a statement Thursday that the charges related to the conduct of the players towards referee Mike Dean following the red card shown to midfielder John Obi Mikel after 32 minutes for his lunge on United defender Patrice Evra.
In the statement the FA also named Chelsea assistant coach Steve Clarke and charged him with using insulting words towards the match officials after the end of the match.
Tuesday, Mikel lost an appeal against the sending off, and did not play in Wednesday’s 4-0 League Cup victory at Championship side Hull City. He is suspended for two more matches.