Maresca given one-game ban for Liverpool red
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has been handed a one-match touchline ban and fined £8,000 following his dismissal during Chelsea’s 2-1 Premier League victory over Liverpool on October 4, 2025. The Italian manager received a second yellow card late in stoppage time for an exuberant celebration of the winning goal and has accepted the misconduct charge, leading to his suspension for Chelsea’s upcoming away fixture against Nottingham Forest.
Maresca was first booked during the match for protesting a penalty decision. His second yellow came in the sixth minute of stoppage time after he ran down the touchline to celebrate Estevao Willian’s dramatic late winner. The Football Association confirmed that Maresca admitted to improper conduct, which included disorderly behavior and excessive celebration outside the technical area. This is the manager’s second touchline ban since taking charge at Stamford Bridge in June 2024, having previously been suspended for celebrating a late goal against Fulham earlier in the season.
The ban means Maresca will be absent from the sidelines for Chelsea’s Premier League trip to Nottingham Forest on Saturday, with assistant coach Willy Caballero expected to take charge. Despite the suspension, FA regulations allow Maresca to communicate with his staff by phone or other means during the match.
Maresca described his celebration as “an instinctive reaction” and said in Italian media that “it was worth it,” reflecting the importance of the win in halting Chelsea’s run of poor results and moving them up the league table. The victory marked a crucial turning point, boosting team morale and providing tactical validation for Maresca’s approach of high pressing and attacking transition, with Estevao Willian emerging as a key figure in the squad’s offensive strategy.
The suspension underscores the fine line managers tread in competitive matches between passion and regulation. For Chelsea, Maresca’s leadership remains pivotal in their quest to stabilize and push higher in the Premier League standings, with the coming fixtures critical to their season objectives. Meanwhile, the manager’s disciplinary issue serves as a reminder of the intense pressures in top-flight football and the importance of composure within the technical area.