Chelsea boss Antonio Conte confirms he will accept FA charge after his midweek sending-off

By Pat McLoughlin

Friday 1 December 2017 20:26, UK

Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte says he will accept his FA misconduct charge and pay the fine following his sending-off against Swansea on Wednesday night.

The Italian was sent to the stands by referee Neil Swarbrick towards the end of the first half of Chelsea's 1-0 victory after furiously protesting the award of a Swansea goal-kick.

He later apologised to Swarbrick and fourth official Lee Mason but was charged on Thursday.

Conte had until 6pm on Tuesday, December 5, to respond but does not plan to contest the charge and will accept the punishment, which is anticipated to be an £8,000 fine as he is subject to a standard FA charge.

Speaking ahead of Saturday lunchtime's Sky Live Premier League clash at home to Newcastle, Conte said: "I think it's right to accept and to pay the fine.

"I want to respect this decision and also to pay this fine."

While accepting the decision, Conte believes Swarbrick must learn from it too.

Conte added: "I also want the referee to learn something. For me, Swansea was wasting time.

"In this case, the referee has to try to protect the team that want to win, want to play football.

"I was angry because despite twice I said to the fourth official 'look, because they are wasting a lot of time'. I shout this. I accept the decision of the referee."

Conte, though, insists he will not be changing his animated touchline behaviour.

"For what? For this? No," he said.

Cesar Azpilicueta was rested in the Premier League for the first time under Conte in the hard-fought win over the Swans, ending a run of 74 successive league starts since December 2015, while Eden Hazard was relegated to the substitutes' bench along with unused replacement Tiemoue Bakayoko.

The Chelsea boss insisted this was a requirement with the Blues still chasing silverware on four fronts.

"In this busy period it's very important to have the rotation and to give the rest to all players," he said.

"I think it was positive, because we won the game and [got] a good answer from all my players but, for sure I repeat, when the period is so busy this is a necessity to have rotations in [my] team."