Shocking new footage shows Nicolas Jackson slapping Nottingham Forest player in massive brawl – but Chelsea star avoids punishment
Nicolas Jackson avoided punishment despite a video showing the Chelsea star slapping an opponent in the 1-1 draw against Nottingham Forest.
Blues Defender Marc Cucurella received an elbow Forest man Neco Williams while chasing a ball near the halfway line.
Cucurella also fell to the ground and accidentally killed his boss Enzo Maresca in the process.
This sparked an angry reaction from the Chelsea players and tensions boiled over between the two teams on the pitch.
Players from both clubs were caught up in the brawl, and the coaching staff attempted to break up the melee when Cucurella and Levi Colwill were booked by referee Chris Kavanagh.
Footage from the touchline appeared to show star striker Jackson, who had been substituted earlier but joined the melee, slapping an opponent.
The VAR examined the incident but considered that no further action was taken and questions were raised about a possible retrospective punishment.
However, Jackson avoided a penalty for the incident and the FA punished both clubs for their players' behaviour.
“Chelsea and Nottingham Forest have been charged following the massive confrontation that took place at the Premier League match on Sunday 6 October,” reported a statement read.
“It is alleged that both clubs failed to ensure that their players did not behave inappropriately and/or provocatively around the 88th minute. Chelsea and Nottingham Forest have until Thursday 10 October to provide their responses.”
Chelsea already face another £25,000 fine after six of their players received yellow cards, and the Blues previously saw eight players booked in their 1-0 win at Bournemouth, a match that saw the most reservations in a match in Premier League history.
Cucurella's yellow card means he will miss Chelsea's clash with Liverpool in their first game after the October international break, and Wesley Fofana is also suspended for his yellow card.
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The match at Stamford Bridge had 13 minutes of stoppage time and Chelsea tied 1-1.
The visitors took the lead four minutes into the second half when Chris Wood finished from close range.
However, it didn't take long for Chelsea to respond as Noni Madueke fired into the bottom left corner for Cole Palmer's fifth assist of the Premier League season.
Forest faced a nervy end to the match after seeing James Ward-Prowse sent off with a second yellow card for a deliberate handball.
Chelsea had two excellent chances to score a late winner, but neither Joao Felix nor Christopher Nkunku could find the back of the net.
Forest also had a golden opportunity to take the three points to Nottingham, but Robert Sánchez cleverly denied Jota Silva in the final moments.
The draw ends Chelsea's five-match winning streak in all competitions but allows them to remain in the Premier League's top four ahead of the international break.
Forest bounced back from last weekend's defeat to Fulham with another point at Stamford Bridge, their fifth in three seasons since returning to the Premier League.
“If you ask me if I would prefer something like this to happen, I like the spirit of our team,” Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca said.
“In terms of emotion, the team is fighting and I don't think some will lose their minds. They were all in the game. I was happy with that.
“There are certainly things we can control and do better, and this is probably one of them. But the way they fight together, the way they do things together, I am very happy.”
