Chelsea and Brighton escape FA charge after angry Stamford Bridge scenes | OneFootball

Chelsea and Brighton will face no FA action despite appearing to surround referee Craig Pawson on Sunday.

Both teams fumed at decisions during Chelsea's thrilling 3-2 victory at Stamford Bridge, with Mauricio Pochettino acting as a peacekeeper by pulling players away from match officials.

Manchester City, meanwhile, will face an FA charge for surrounding referee Simon Hooper in a similarly emotional 3-3 draw with Tottenham.

Star striker Erling Haaland led the complaints after Jack Grealish was stopped when through on goal in the final minute by the referee's whistle despite an advantage initially appearing to be given.

Chelsea players with referee Craig Pawson

AP

Complaints from both Chelsea and Brighton came after a controversial use of VAR, which Pochettino said was "weird" and enflamed tensions.

James Milner brought Mykhailo Mudryk down in the box midway through the second half, which Pawson initially did not give until VAR Jarred Gillet sent him to the screen to change his decision.

Pawson then awarded Brighton a penalty in the 99th minute, having mistakenly thought a cross had hit Levi Colwill's arm. The ball hit him on the head, but Pawson corrected the decision after VAR told him to look at the screen.

There was further confusion as the incident denied Brighton a corner, with the game restarting through a Chelsea drop ball.

He said: "Why was the penalty of [Mykhailo] Mudryk waiting for VAR and he gave the [Colwill] handball? It is so weird the way we use VAR sometimes."