Chelsea winger Raheem Sterling is potentially facing a ban following the emergence of footage showing him throwing an object into the Tottenham crowd during Monday night’s match.
The clash, where the west Londoners secured a 4-1 victory, was intense, with Tottenham initially dominating the game.
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However, the momentum shifted when Cristian Romero received a red card in the 33rd minute for a challenge on Enzo Fernandez. This resulted in a penalty, expertly converted by Cole Palmer.
Before Palmer’s goal, Chelsea had already found the net twice, courtesy of Sterling and Moises Caicedo. Both instances were ruled offside, prompting celebrations in front of the Spurs fans and gestures of ‘ssshing’ the crowd.
In footage posted on Chelsea’s TikTok account, an object can be seen landing near Palmer.
???? BREAKING: Raheem Sterling could face a ban after appearing to throw a missile back into the crowd on Monday. [Daily Mail] pic.twitter.com/ULOWXbbYnk
— CFC-Blues (@CFCBlues_com) November 9, 2023
Sterling, after the goal, is observed picking up the object and seemingly tossing it back towards the crowd as the players regrouped at the center circle.
The Football Association is investigating the incident after reviewing the footage, and Sterling could potentially face a ban, as it went unnoticed by match officials but drew reactions from nearby Spurs fans.
This action is under scrutiny to determine the need for further measures.
Similar incidents in the past have led to player penalties. For instance, Richarlison received a one-match ban for throwing a lit flare into the crowd during the 2021/22 season, and legendary Chelsea striker Didier Drogba was handed a three-match ban in 2008 for reacting to fans throwing a coin by tossing it back.
No immediate action is expected before Chelsea’s upcoming match against Sterling’s former club, Manchester City, on Sunday.
Tottenham will miss Romero for the next three matches, while Destiny Udogie will also be absent for the game against Wolves.
The team is concerned about Micky van de Ven’s injury sustained in the Chelsea match, which might keep him sidelined for an extended period, possibly until the end of the year, even if he avoids surgery.
