Chelsea yet to respond to FA charge

Chelsea are yet to respond to a Football Association charge after their players surrounded referee Lee Mason at half-time during Wednesday’s 1-1 draw with Huddersfield.

The Blues were charged with failing to ensure their players “conducted themselves in an orderly fashion.”

A Chelsea spokesperson, speaking during Antonio Conte’s media conference ahead of this weekend’s game at Newcastle, said there was no update relating to the charge.

The spokesperson said: “We’ve got until 6pm on May 15 to respond to that charge. There’s no further update.”

Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is in contention for the trip to St James’ Park following a back injury.

Only a win at Newcastle and Liverpool losing at home to Brighton would see Chelsea snatch a Champions League place.

Boss Conte said: “The situation, especially for a place in the Champions League, is not in our hands. But we have to try to get three points against Newcastle, then to drop something positive for us.

“Now we must be focused on the league, to try to finish in the best possible way.”