Chelsea’s appeal to cut Reece James’ four-game ban got a no from the Football Association (FA).
The England full back, was shown a red card in a game against Brighton near the end of last Premier League season and because of that he won’t get to play in the first three matches of the new season.
James got his red for kicking Brighton’s Joao Pedro and it was his second red of the season.
This led to a four-game ban for him. He already served one match of the suspension by missing Chelsea’s final game of the season against Bournemouth, a match which was also Mauricio Pochettino’s last as the in charge of the club.
In an attempt to reduce the ban, Chelsea presented an appeal to the FA.
They argued that James was “disoriented” after being fouled himself and did not intend to harm Pedro.
The club claimed that James was merely trying to push Pedro away with his foot rather than kick him.
However, the FA’s independent regulatory commission did not find Chelsea’s arguments convincing.
They reviewed the video evidence and concluded that James’ actions were deliberate and amounted to violent conduct.
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The FA stated,
” The FA found Reece James’ account unconvincing. Video evidence clearly showed James kicking the opposing player below the left knee. The claim that he was disoriented was rejected, as the other player was moving away from him. This was not a simple collision.
Additionally, it was not accepted that James merely pushed the player with his leg. The footage showed him deliberately kicking with a straight left leg, which was deemed unnecessary and violent. Therefore, the appeal was dismissed “.
The decision means that Reece James will be absent for the first three Premier League games under Chelsea’s new manager, Enzo Maresca. This is another setback for James, who had a challenging previous season.
He played only ten league games due to a combination of suspensions and injuries. His limited time on the pitch also cost him a spot in England’s Euro 2024 squad.
Chelsea’s attempt to have James’ ban reduced might have been ambitious, but the FA’s ruling was clear and firm.
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The appeal’s rejection underscores the importance of player conduct and the FA’s stance on maintaining discipline on the field.
For James, the focus will now be on recovery and readiness to make a significant impact once his suspension is served.
The club and fans alike will be hoping for a healthier and more disciplined season from the talented defender as they look forward to the new campaign under Maresca’s leadership.
