Chelsea await outcome of Moises Caicedo incident after Brighton defeat

The Ecuadorian midfielder was at the centre of a heated scuffle which overshadowed a disappointing afternoon for Enzo Maresca's side.

The Blues had taken an early lead at Stamford Bridge but collapsed as Brighton fought back, and tempers flared midway through the contest.

Caicedo squared up to winger Yankuba Minteh before Van Hecke stormed over, grabbing him by the arm. Caicedo responded angrily with a gesture that appeared to make contact, sending Van Hecke tumbling to the ground.

Benoit Badiashile then tried to pick the Brighton defender up, sparking a wider confrontation involving players from both sides. VAR checked the incident, with Badiashile and Brighton captain Lewis Dunk shown yellow cards.

However, Caicedo's role in the melee was not clearly captured by the cameras, leaving the door open for possible retrospective action.

Journalist Nizaar Kinsella has reported that a ban for Caicedo is "highly unlikely," with both clubs instead expected to be charged for failing to control their players. Still, there remains some uncertainty over whether further review could take place.

Van Hecke downplayed the incident after the final whistle, telling The Argus: "It's just in the heat of the battle and it's all good."

Chelsea's problems deepened with Trevoh Chalobah's red card adding to their defensive crisis. The Blues are already without Levi Colwill, Tosin Adarabioyo and Wesley Fofana through injury, leaving Maresca with limited options at the back.

Club officials remain sympathetic to the manager, acknowledging that suspensions and injuries have disrupted his tactical plans despite the mounting pressure on results.

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