The confrontation erupted during Chelsea’s 2-1 win over Palmeiras on Friday. The match was already intense—Estevão had scored an equalizer for Palmeiras before a late own goal from Weverton sealed the win for Chelsea. But tempers boiled over when Rios and Fernandez got into it on the pitch.
Things escalated quickly, with players from both teams stepping in to pull them apart at Lincoln Financial Field. Despite the chaos, the referee didn’t hand out any cards, something Hackett says could now prompt FIFA to step in with retroactive punishment.
Speaking to Football Insider, Hackett criticized how the incident was handled:
He also warned that both teams might be charged for failing to control their players — a standard disciplinary action under FIFA rules. Fines could reportedly reach up to £250,000, which would be in line with similar incidents.
While Palmeiras don’t have much of a disciplinary track record, Chelsea’s past might work against them. Earlier in the tournament, striker Nicolas Jackson was suspended for two matches following an altercation in a group-stage game against Flamengo something that could lead to a stiffer punishment this time around.
So, as Palmeiras head home after their elimination, they also face the possibility of a financial hit. And while Chelsea move on to the semi-finals, they could still be penalized once FIFA concludes its review of the incident.
