Manchester City, Chelsea charged as Sergio Aguero faces four games out

MANCHESTER City and Chelsea have been charged with failing to control their players following ugly scenes during their Premier League match, the FA says.

Cesc Fabregas of Chelsea and Fernandinho of Manchester City clash.

MANCHESTER City and Chelsea have been charged with failing to control their players following ugly scenes during their Premier League match, the Football Association says.

Meanwhile, Sergio Aguero’s four-match suspension has been confirmed by the FA after his red card in Manchester City’s loss to Chelsea, while midfielder Fernandinho faces three games out.

City striker Aguero was shown a red card for a dangerous two-footed foul on Chelsea defender David Luiz, which led to a bust-up between players and coaches from both teams in the final moments of Saturday’s Premier League clash at Eastlands.

“Both Manchester City and Chelsea have been charged for failing to ensure their players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion and/or refrained from provocative behaviour,” the FA said in a statement on Monday. “Both clubs have until 6pm on 8 December, 2016, to respond to the charge.”

Manchester City's Sergio Aguero, left, is red carded for this tackle on Chelsea's David Luiz

Argentina international, who has scored 16 goals this season, will now miss league fixtures against Leicester, Watford, Arsenal and Hull.

Aguero has already missed three games through suspension this term for elbowing West Ham’s Winston Reid and his latest absence is a major blow to City’s title challenge.

Fernandinho was also sent off for shoving Cesc Fabregas during the incident, with City’s Brazilian midfielder banned for three matches, as indicated on the disciplinary pages of the FA website on Monday.

Chelsea won the game 3-1 to move three points clear at the top, but both clubs have been charged by the FA with failing to control their players following the feisty finale.

City and Chelsea have until 1800 GMT on December 8 to respond to the charge. Fabregas has avoided censure for apparently striking Fernandinho during the bench-clearing row, prompting the Brazil international’s furious reaction.

Meanwhile, West Bromwich Albion and Watford became the latest Premier League teams to be put in the dock over their players behaviour as on Monday the Football Association charged them over a brawl on Saturday.

The confrontation between the two sets of players -- in a match West Brom won 2-1 -- occurred when Watford’s Roberto Pereyra was red-carded six minutes from time for lashing out at James McClean after the latter clattered into him.

“Both West Bromwich Albion and Watford have been charged for failing to ensure their players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion and/or refrained from provocative behaviour,” read a statement from the FA.

“It follows an incident in the 84th minute of the game on Saturday December 3 2016.

“Both clubs have until 6pm (1800GMT) December 8 2016 to respond to the charge.”

Originally published as Manchester City, Chelsea charged as Sergio Aguero faces four games out