Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca will be absent from the touchline for the club’s upcoming Premier League home fixture against Everton after receiving a one-match ban from England’s Football Association, according to a report by the BBC on Monday. The sanction follows Maresca’s accumulation of three yellow cards, with the most recent issued for his exuberant celebrations after Pedro Neto’s stoppage-time winner secured a 2-1 victory over Fulham on Sunday, April 20.
The win elevated Chelsea into fifth place, the final Champions League qualification spot, ahead of Nottingham Forest on goal difference. However, Forest have an opportunity to reclaim the position if they avoid defeat in their match against Tottenham later on Monday, April 21.
Maresca, 45, had previously been booked during Chelsea’s games against Newcastle and Bournemouth earlier in the season. His suspension is limited to the match against Everton at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, and he is expected to return to the dugout for Chelsea’s subsequent fixture against league leaders Liverpool on May 4.
During Maresca’s absence, assistant manager Willy Caballero, the former Argentine international and Chelsea goalkeeper, is likely to take over touchline duties for the crucial clash against Everton.