### Chelsea's Enzo Maresca Faces Touchline Ban Following Controversial Celebration Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has been handed a one-match touchline ban and fined £8,000 by the Football Association (FA) due to improper conduct during a recent match against Liverpool. This incident occurred on October 4, 2025, when Maresca celebrated a last-minute goal in a manner deemed excessive, leading to his dismissal from the game. As a result, he will not be present on the touchline for Chelsea's upcoming Premier League match against Nottingham Forest on October 21, 2025. Assistant coach Willy Caballero will take charge in his absence [https://www.businessupturn.com/sports/soccer/chelsea-will-be-without-their-manager-in-the-next-pl-game-against-nottingham-forest]. ### Breakdown of the Incident and Consequences 1. **Incident Overview**: - Maresca was sent off in the sixth minute of stoppage time during the match against Liverpool after running down the touchline to celebrate a goal scored by Estêvão Willian, which secured a 2-1 victory for Chelsea [https://www.si.com/soccer/enzo-maresca-premier-league-punishment-wild-celebration]. 2. **FA's Decision**: - The FA confirmed that Maresca admitted to a misconduct charge, resulting in a one-match suspension and a fine of £8,000 [https://www.si.com/onsi/soccer/chelsea/news/enzo-maresca-receives-one-match-chelsea-touchline-ban-as-fa-release-statement-01k7m390w3c2]. 3. **Impact on Team**: - With Maresca absent, assistant coach Willy Caballero will lead the team against Nottingham Forest, which is crucial as Chelsea aims to maintain their position in the league after a recent win that lifted them to sixth place [https://www.thescore.com/eng_fed/news/3369368/chelseas-maresca-banned-for-forest-match-after-wild-celebration]. ### Supporting Evidence and Reactions - **Maresca's Reaction**: Following the incident, Maresca expressed that his celebration was an instinctive reaction and deemed it "worth it" despite the consequences [https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/enzo-maresca-suspended-chelsea-ban-36057435]. - **Match Context**: The victory over Liverpool was significant for Chelsea, as they had lost their previous two matches, making the win essential for morale and league standing [https://www.barrons.com/news/chelsea-s-maresca-banned-for-forest-match-after-wild-celebration-b1c904a1]. ### Conclusion and Implications In summary, **Enzo Maresca's one-match touchline ban highlights the FA's strict stance on conduct during matches**. The incident not only affects Maresca personally but also poses challenges for Chelsea as they prepare for a critical match against Nottingham Forest. The team's performance in his absence will be closely monitored, especially following their recent resurgence in form. 1. **Maresca's ban is a direct consequence of his actions during the Liverpool match**. 2. **Assistant coach Willy Caballero will step in, impacting team dynamics**. 3. **Chelsea's recent win has placed them in a better league position, but consistency is key moving forward**. This situation underscores the balance between passion in sports and adherence to regulations [https://uzalendonews.co.ke/maresca-gets-one-game-ban-for-liverpool-celebrations].