Keith Hackett: FA Investigation Should Be Launched After Man City vs Chelsea Incident

Former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett has called for an FA investigation into a serious incident during Manchester City's match against Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium, where emotions boiled over between players from both sides.[1]

Hackett, a respected ex-referees' leader and FIFA official, highlighted the "stupid and dangerous" behavior that damaged the image of the game. The clash reportedly involved Chelsea players in a heated exchange, prompting fury from Hackett, who described it as unacceptable conduct warranting official scrutiny.[2][4]

Tensions escalated late in the game as the scoreline tightened, with physical confrontations and verbal sparring spilling over from a controversial challenge. Hackett argued that the FA must intervene to prevent such incidents from tarnishing the Premier League's reputation, drawing parallels to recent cases like Sean Dyche's post-match comments after Nottingham Forest's loss to Man City and Emi Martinez's fan altercation with Arsenal.[2]

He emphasized the referees' role, noting that officials must maintain control amid high stakes, but stressed that players bear primary responsibility for their actions. "This was not just passion; it was reckless," Hackett stated, urging the governing body to review footage and issue appropriate sanctions to deter future occurrences.[1][2]

The incident has sparked debate online, with fans divided on fault lines—some blaming Chelsea's aggression, others pointing to City's provocation. Hackett warned that without investigation, similar flare-ups could proliferate, especially in title races.[4]

(Word count: 298)