EPL: Tuchel banned from touchline against Leicester

EPL: Tuchel banned from touchline against Leicester
Thomas Tuchel has been banned from the touchline for Chelsea’s Premier League clash with Leicester on Saturday as punishment for his conduct in the 2-2 draw with Tottenham earlier this month.

In one of the biggest flashpoints of the season so far, Tuchel clashed with Antonio Conte over a handshake.

The incident resulted in both managers being charged with improper conduct.

Tuchel’s own recollection of the incident is as follows: “At the end of the [fixture] I approached [AC] to shake his hand as an act of sportsmanship.

“[AC] took my hand but did not look at me and I considered his demeanour to be a sign of disrespect towards me.

“I therefore held on to his hand as he walked past me and told him to look me in the eyes when he shakes my hand.

“[AC] replied in Italian and acted very aggressively towards me.

“I did not however react to his aggression and did not say anything insulting to him.”

However, the FA have still moved to ban Tuchel from the game between Chelsea and Leicester at Stamford Bridge.

The FA’s statement reads: “Thomas Tuchel will be banned from the touchline for Chelsea FC’s Premier League match against Leicester City FC on Saturday 27 August 2022.

“The manager admitted that his behaviour after the final whistle of the Premier League game against Tottenham Hotspur FC on Sunday 14 August 2022 was improper.

“An independent Regulatory Commission subsequently ordered for him to be fined £35,000 and suspended from the touchline for one fixture during a hearing.

“Thomas Tuchel appealed against these sanctions, but this has been dismissed by an Appeal Board today [Friday].”

Their notes explain the decision to reject the appeal, stating his conduct during the handshake with Conte “involved a level of aggression (as the Appellant accepted by admitting the TT charge), was unprovoked, was unjustified and was wholly improper” and “highly-provocative conduct”.

The FA also noted that Conte’s reaction was “a direct consequence of the Appellant’s wholly improper conduct” and so Tuchel’s claim that Conte’s reaction “significantly escalated” the incident was dismissed.