Antonio Conte and Thomas Tuchel the only managers to miss referees briefing

Antonio Conte and Thomas Tuchel, the warring coaches from Sunday’s battle of Stamford Bridge, were the only two who did not attend the pre-season briefing laid on for the 20 Premier League managers by the referees’ organisation, it can be revealed.

Tuchel and Conte have both been charged with improper conduct after their sides’ 2-2 draw with the Football Association now investigating the Chelsea manager’s post-match remarks in which he suggested referee Anthony Taylor was biased against his club and should not officiate their games any longer. The two managers have until Thursday August 18 to provide their respective responses to the charges.

Taylor sent both men off after the final whistle after a clash that had begun with Tuchel holding onto Conte’s hand after they shook, having previously squared up during the game. The Premier League encourages all managers to attend one of the two briefings by the referee’s body – Professional Game Match officials (PGMOL) – so that they can be told of any law changes or parts of the law that referees will be focusing on in the forthcoming season, as well as ask questions.

In addition, Chelsea could also provide an early test case for how effective the new system of assessment, introduced this season as part of the Elite Referee Development Plan, is if the panel supports their opinions on Taylor’s performance, Telegraph Sport has learned.

Issues at the managers’ briefings included penalising players more heavily for time-wasting with an emphasis on keeping the ball in play longer than last season’s average – just 55 mins and seven seconds across all 380 Premier League games. Taylor booked Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy on Sunday for taking too much time releasing the ball.

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