FA Confirm No Action To Be Taken Against Torres Over Vertonghen Clash

The Football Association have confirmed this afternoon that Chelsea striker Fernando Torres will face no action for an incident with Tottenham’s Jan Vertonghen during the two clubs game at White Hart Lane on Saturday.

The Spanish striker clashed with the Spurs defender shortly after half time with Torres appearing to claw at Vertonghen’s face after the Belgian had reacted badly to being tripped by the Blues man.

The assistant referee stepped in to calm the situation and Torres was subsequently booked by referee Mike Dean, although it wasn’t clear whether the yellow card was for the ‘claw’ or the initial trip.

However, the FA have now confirmed that Torres will not face retrospective action as one of the match officials saw the incident and didn’t deem it worthy of a red card.

Here’s what the statement on FA.com said:

“Chelsea striker Fernando Torres will not face retrospective action

The FA will take no action against Chelsea’s Fernando Torres in relation to an incident involving Tottenham Hotspur’s Jan Vertonghen which occurred in the 50th minute of their match on Saturday 28 September 2013.

One of the match officials saw the coming together of the two players, albeit not in its entirety.

In these particular circumstances, in line with The FA’s policy on when retrospective action may be taken, reviewed this summer by the game’s stakeholders (the Premier League, the Football League, the Professional Footballers’ Association, the League Managers’ Association, Professional Game Match Officials Limited and the National Game), no action may be taken.”

Torres was eventually sent off in the final 10 minutes of the game for receiving a second yellow card following yet another coming together with Vertonghen. The pair challenged for an aerial ball and Mike Dean gave the Chelsea forward his marching orders for allegedly leading with the elbow – although replays showed there was very little contact made.

So while Torres may feel hard done by for receiving a second yellow card on that occasion, he should thank himself fortunate that he wasn’t sent off earlier and is now only facing a one-match ban instead of three.

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