- Chelsea's attempt to overturn Reece James' red card suspension
- This rejection marks the end of James' appeals process.
- He will miss the start of the season
Chelsea’s attempt to overturn Reece James’ red card suspension has been rejected by the Football Association (FA).
The 24-year-old defender will miss the first three matches of the upcoming season due to a violent conduct red card received last month against Brighton striker Joao Pedro.
The four-match ban includes the final game of last season, with the additional three matches stemming from it being James’ second red card of the campaign.
Chelsea argued that James was disoriented after a foul and that his contact with Pedro was unintentional. They claimed he was merely pushing the striker away. However, the FA deemed this explanation “unpersuasive.” They pointed out that the video evidence clearly showed James kicking Pedro below the knee, calling the action “unnecessary.”
This rejection marks the end of James’ appeals process. He will miss the start of the season and was not included in Gareth Southgate’s England training squad for Euro 2024.
Chelsea, known for their high number of yellow cards last season, will be looking to improve their discipline under new manager Enzo Maresca.
