Chelsea have been fined £40,000 by the Football Association for the fracas following their Premier League match against Derby County on November 24.

The club accepted a charge of failing to control their players at the end of the 2-0 win, when John Terry, the Chelsea captain, and other players confronted the referee after he sent off Michael Essien for raising his hands to Derby’s Kenny Miller.

Chelsea believed the combative Essien had been harshly dealt with. Players rushed to surround Andre Marriner, the referee, after the injury time sending-off at Pride Park.

The Ghanian midfielder was given a straight red after appeared to catch the Derby striker in the face. After the game, Ashley Cole, the Chelsea left-back, defended Essien.

“He does that every day in training. It is just the way he is. He does not mean to hurt anyone”, he said.

It is the fifth time in two years that the club has found itself on the wrong end of an FA disciplinary ruling.

Chelsea admitted a similar charge after a 2-0 defeat against Manchester United in September.