Levi Colwill Faces Possible FIFA Disciplinary Action After Heated Outburst During Club World Cup Victory Over BenficaChelsea defender Levi Colwill has found himself at the center of controversy following a fiery exchange with referee Slavko Vincic during the Blues’ 4-1 win over Benfica in the FIFA Club World Cup. The incident, which occurred late in stoppage time, has drawn criticism from a former top-level referee and could potentially lead to disciplinary action from FIFA.
The drama unfolded when Vincic awarded a highly contentious penalty to Benfica deep into added time, prompting an angry reaction from the 21-year-old centre-back. Witnesses report that Colwill shouted “disgrace” at the match official in protest of the decision — an outburst that immediately earned him a yellow card.
Although Chelsea went on to dominate in extra time, scoring three goals through Christopher Nkunku, Pedro Neto, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to secure a convincing victory, Colwill’s emotional reaction may have longer-lasting consequences.
Former Premier League referee Keith Hackett has since weighed in on the incident, warning that FIFA could intervene after reviewing the footage and match reports.
Speaking to Football Insider, Hackett said, “You may disagree with a referee, but you can’t use those words. All referees at the tournament speak English, so they’ll understand exactly what was said.”Hackett emphasized that FIFA officials are unlikely to overlook the widely discussed incident. “There is a threshold referees are trained to tolerate, but that threshold is flexible. I suspect that if FIFA take note of this — and given the media attention, they probably will — the player should expect a sanction.”
At the time of the controversial call, Chelsea were leading 1-0 courtesy of a Reece James free-kick.
However, Angel Di Maria converted the disputed penalty for Benfica, sending the match into extra time.
Despite that setback, the Blues showed remarkable resilience, eventually pulling away to record an emphatic 4-1 win.Still, Colwill’s conduct risks casting a shadow over what was otherwise an impressive team performance.
As one of the most trusted defenders in Enzo Maresca’s setup, any disciplinary action or suspension could impact Chelsea’s preparations for their upcoming quarter-final clash against Palmeiras on July 4.
With FIFA known for maintaining strict standards around player discipline — especially in international competitions — it remains to be seen whether Colwill’s outburst will be formally addressed.
Chelsea fans and coaching staff alike will be hoping the matter is resolved without further consequences, but Hackett’s remarks have raised the possibility that the incident may not be quietly forgotten.
For now, the spotlight remains on FIFA’s response, and on whether Colwill’s moment of frustration will lead to further repercussions in Chelsea’s Club World Cup
