The FA have charged Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton & Hove Albion for a mass confrontation that took place in the 58th minute of Saturday's game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. A huge game in the top-four race, tensions began to boil over before a ball had even been kicked with Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi confronting counterpart Cristian Stellini when he had emerged from the tunnel to shake his hand as he believed the Spurs boss had disrespected him leading up to the contest.
The row continued throughout the game, with De Zerbi and his coaching team seen antagonising the Tottenham bench after Lewis Dunk had restored parity in the first half. Things finally came to a head moments after Danny Welbeck had seen a goal ruled out for handball by VAR, with both benches coming together and a melee breaking out.
Although Stellini had stayed away from the drama and concentrated on the match at hand, he, along with De Zerbi, saw red as referee Stuart Attwell dismissed them for failing to control their respective benches. Now four days on from the incident in N17, the FA have released a statement and confirmed that both clubs have until Monday, April 18 to respond to the charge.
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"Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton & Hove Albion have been charged for a mass confrontation that took place during the 58th minute of their Premier League game on Saturday 8 April," read a statement from the FA. "It's alleged that both clubs failed to ensure their technical area occupants conducted themselves in an orderly fashion and/or do not behave in a way which is improper. Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton & Hove Albion have until Monday 18 April to respond."
Asked about the incident in his post-match press conference, Stellini refused to speak about the drama.
"I can say only that what happened on the pitch, stay onto the pitch," he told football.london. "Sometimes it seems something bad but is not. I want to let everyone understand that this is my second game like head coach for Tottenham and I want to give respect to all the managers in Premier League.
"When I speak about manager, I speak every time like I am a person that has to learn from all the manager who work in Premier League. Managers that work in the past, managers that work now. I want to learn every day, I try to do my best and I want to give respect to everyone, so I don't speak about anything that happen into the pitch."
Whereas Stellini didn't open up on the incident, De Zerbi did and admitted that he felt disrespected by Tottenham's acting head coach.
"I'm used to always respecting everyone inside and outside of the pitch," said the Seagulls boss. "I don't like it when people don't respect me. But there are normal situations in football. It's personal things. I always respect everyone, especially the coaches. I can answer for me, not for him."
Asked if he felt disrespected by Stellini, De Zerbi added: "Yes. It's a personal situation. I told him what was my opinion, my idea, not bad words, only my opinion."
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