Manchester United have been hit with a fine worth £82,000 by the FA for failing to ensure players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion during two matches last month.
The two charges — from the games against Newcastle and Chelsea — were judged to have breached FA Rule E20.1.
United first came under the spotlight for breaching the rules after Cristiano Ronaldo had a goal disallowed against Newcastle at Old Trafford and again for a protest against the award of Chelsea’s late penalty at Stamford Bridge.
It feels like the FA are throwing the book at United and making an example of England’s biggest club. When you see decisions contested every weekend in other Premier League matches, it makes you wonder why these two incidents involving United were deemed so bad?
What is FA Rule E.20.1?
As per the rulebook: “Each Affiliated Association, Competition and Club shall be responsible for ensuring that its Directors, players, officials, employees, servants, representatives, conduct themselves in an orderly fashion whilst attending any Match and do not use words or otherwise behave in a way which is improper, offensive, violent, threatening, abusive, indecent, insulting or provocative.”
The two fines come to £82,000 – made up of £45,000 and £37,000 — while a statement from the FA reads (via The42): “Manchester United FC has been fined £82,000 in total for breaching FA Rule E20.1 during its Premier League matches against Newcastle United FC on Sunday 16 October and Chelsea FC on Saturday 22 October.
“Manchester United FC admitted that it failed to ensure its players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion during the 49th minute of the Newcastle United FC game and the 84th minute of the Chelsea FC fixture.”
Next they will be telling fans not to contest decisions.
