Thomas Tuchel could find himself in hot water with the Football Association over his comments regarding referee Anthony Taylor following Chelsea's 2-2 draw with Tottenham.
The two clubs played out a fiery and thrilling clash at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, which eventually saw Tuchel and Spurs boss Antonio Conte sent off after the final whistle. Both managers clashed on the touchline during the game before becoming embroiled in another heated row after shaking hands at full-time.
Spurs had been somewhat fortunate to escape with a point having clawed themselves back level twice through two controversial goals. Tuchel was adamant after the game that neither equaliser should have stood, with ref Taylor copping the flack.
Chelsea were furious that a foul on Kai Havertz in the lead-up to Spurs' first goal went unpunished, as Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg slammed home a long-range strike to cancel out Kalidou Koulibaly's stunning opener. Cristian Romero was then seen to pull Chelsea's new signing Marc Cucurella to the ground by his hair inside the box - right in the view of Taylor - before Harry Kane nodded home a late leveller.
VAR official Mike Dean opted against a red card for Romero, leaving Tuchel incensed after the game. Asked if it was best if Taylor shouldn't referee Chelsea again, Tuchel replied: "Maybe it would be better.
"But honestly, we also have VAR to help make the right decisions. Since when can players be pulled at their hair? Since when is that? And if he does not see it, I don't blame him.
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"I didn't see it, but we have people at VAR who check this and then you see it and then how can this not be a free-kick and how can it not be a red card? How?"
The German coach then suggested Taylor was working against his side, adding: "“I don’t think that just some of the fans think that: I can assure you that the whole dressing room of us, every person thinks that.
"You know the players, they know what’s going on when they are on the pitch. They know it." Quizzed whether Chelsea's players had concerns over Taylor officiating them, Tuchel replied: "Yeah, of course."
As reported by the Mail, the FA are now going to investigate Tuchel's claims once they have analysed Taylor's report from the match at Stamford Bridge. Tuchel could already be facing trouble over his row with Conte after refusing to let go of his adversary's hand after the game.
Tuchel is expected to be handed a touchline ban for Chelsea's next clash with Leeds, to which Tuchel declared: "So good! I cannot coach but the referee can whistle the next game."
Thousands of fans have now signed a petition calling for Taylor to be banned from officiating Chelsea fixtures. The 43-year-old has history with the Blues after sending Mateo Kovacic off in the 2019/20 FA Cup final as well as dismissing Reece James in the Premier League fixture vs Liverpool at Anfield last season.
The page description reads: “Anthony Taylor has continued to make big decisions against Chelsea over the years in big matches. Taylor has an agenda against Chelsea and should not be allowed to referee a game involving the club again.”
