Does Maresca's touchline suspension include a dressing room ban?
- Published
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca couldn't control his celebrations after Estevao Willian's 95th-minute winner against Liverpool, landing himself a second yellow card of the game, a sending off and a one-game suspension.
It is his second touchline ban since becoming a Premier League manager in June 2024. He served his first suspension in April 2025 after picking up a third yellow card of the season while celebrating Pedro Neto's 93rd-minute winner at Fulham.
Several questions have been sent in via our 'Ask about Chelsea' form about the suspension and what it will mean for the club when they travel to Nottingham Forest after the October international break.
Where will Maresca be sitting? Will he be able to make contact with the players during the match? Will he be allowed in the dressing room at half-time?
In short, the Football Association (FA), external sets out where head coaches can or cannot go before, during and after a match when a touchline ban has been issued.
The Italian boss will be required to sit in the directors' box at the City Ground. If there isn't a seat available in the directors' box, he will need to "sit in a stand away from opposition supporters and away from the vicinity of the technical area".
Other restrictions include not being allowed to sit near the club's designated dugout, go near the field of play or shout instructions down to his staff.
Maresca won't be banned from entering Chelsea's dressing room though, as the FA rules state that he is allowed in there before kick-off, at half-time and at full-time.
He will also be able to communicate with his staff "by means of telephone, a runner or any other electronic device such as a radio or mobile phone" during the match.
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