Chelsea's Reece James' 4 match ban upheld by FA

The right-back is set to miss three games at the start of next season

Chelsea’s attempt to get Reece James’s punishment lifted for the commencement of the 2024-25 season under Enzo Maresca has been denied by the Football Association, along with their justification for their captain’s kick-out on Brighton’s Joao Pedro, has failed.

The FA’s appeal paperwork included an overview of the information that the player and club provided.

It states that Pedro “made contact” with James as he raced by, that James was “disoriented” following a foul, and that “it had not been his intention to harm Mr. Pedro, he was simply pushing him away with his foot.”

In their written reasons for their decision, the FA document states: ‘The account of Mr James was not persuasive. It is evident from the video evidence that Mr James does kick out at the opposing player, catching him below the left knee. It was not accepted that he was in some way disoriented. The player was running away from him. This was not merely a coming together.

‘Moreover, it was not accepted that he simply used his leg to push the opposing player away. It is clear from the video evidence that he kicked out at the opposing player with a straight left leg. It was unnecessary and amounted to an act of violent conduct. The appeal was dismissed.’

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With this being James’ second red card of the period, the independent regulatory commission of the FA decisively declined to accept this explanation and upheld James’ four-game suspension.

Having already missed Chelsea’s season-opening match against Bournemouth, the 24-year-old will now miss the team’s first three games in 2024–25.

James was already red-faced at Newcastle after receiving two unwarranted yellow cards, thus this was his second red of the last term.

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