Marc Cucurella was shown a second yellow card after the whistle as Chelsea defeated Brentford.
The Blues were given a golden opportunity to further cement their status as title contenders when they hosted Thomas Frank's side.
Arsenal, Manchester City and leaders Liverpool all dropped points this weekend, and Enzo Maresca's side gained three points on Sunday thanks to goals from Cucurella and Nicolas Jackson, moving them closer to first place.
However, the clash did not turn out to be plain sailing for Chelsea. The visitors came back late thanks to a goal from Bryan Mbeumo.
Just minutes after Mbeumo's strike, and as the match entered the fifth minute of stoppage time, Cucurella was shown a yellow card for a rash challenge on Bees striker Fabio Carvallo.
The dramatic finish threatened to boil over tensions between both teams at Stamford Bridge.
The scenes continued after the final whistle and referee Peter Bankes booked Brentford striker Kevin Shade and showed Cucurella a second yellow.
After the match, Premier League Match Center revealed that the decision was due to the defender 'adopting an aggressive attitude'.
The message on X read: 'The referee gave a second yellow card to Cucurella for taking an aggressive attitude. Damage was also assessed for the same offence.'
Cucurella now risks a one-match suspension.
The decision means the 26-year-old will be unavailable when the Blues travel to Goodison Park to face Everton on Sunday.
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