Manchester City and Chelsea charged over players' brawl but Cesc Fabregas escapes ban

Manchester City and Chelsea have been charged for failing to control their players in the closing stages of Pep Guardiola's 3-1 home defeat to the Blues on Saturday (3 December). However, the Football Association (FA) has confirmed that Cesc Fabregas will avoid any censure despite the former Arsenal midfielder appearing to slap Fernandinho before the Brazilian was sent off for grabbing the Spaniard by the throat.

Both teams were involved in the fracas in the 95th minute of the game after Sergio Aguero made a late challenge on David Luiz, with referee Anthony Taylor instantly showing the Argentinian the red card.

Aguero, who had already been retrospectively suspended for elbowing Winston Reid during August's victory over West Ham United, is set to serve a new four-game ban as result but the FA has now revealed that both City and Chelsea will also face punishment for failing to control their players.

"Manchester City and Chelsea have been charged by the Football Association for failing to control their players during the Premier League clash on Saturday," the FA confirmed in an official statement. "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. It follows an incident in the 95th minute of the game on Saturday 3 December. Both clubs have until 6pm on 8 December 2016 to respond to the charge."

The dismissal of the City striker sparked a mass brawl involving players and staff from both teams, including Fernandinho, Fabregas and Nathaniel Chalobah.

The Manchester City midfielder also got his matching orders for grabbing Fabregas by the throat after the Spaniard appeared to slap him and is set to serve a three-game ban. However, Fabregas, who was booked by referee Taylor for his part in the confrontation, will avoid any punishment.

"Meanwhile, Chelsea's Cesc Fabregas will not face any further action in relation to an incident involving City's Fernandinho," the FA confirmed. "Off the ball incidents which are not seen at the time by the match officials are referred to a panel of three former elite referees.

"Each referee panel member will review the video footage independently of one another to determine whether they consider it a sending-off offence. For retrospective action to be taken, and an FA charge to follow, the decision of the panel must be unanimous."