Chelsea have hit out at the Football Association after Nemanja Matic’s ban for his red card against Burnley was reduced from three to two matches.
The club had hoped the suspension would be reduced to one game given the tackle by Ashley Barnes that prompted an angry reaction from Matic, who shoved the Burnley forward to the ground. Chelsea said in a statement on their website that they were “appalled” at the ruling of the FA regulatory commission.
Matic will miss Sunday’s Capital One Cup final against Tottenham and a Premier League game at West Ham.
“The Chelsea Football Club board is extremely disappointed and frustrated that the FA regulatory commission has today decided not to reduce Nemanja Matic’s suspension to the maximum extent permitted under FA rules,” the club said.
“Chelsea FC challenged the standard three-match suspension which automatically followed the red card issued to Matic by referee Martin Atkinson during Saturday’s Premier League match against Burnley.
“There has been universal condemnation of the reckless challenge made by Ashley Barnes on Matic and it is the club’s view that he has been unjustly punished with a two-match ban for his reaction to a career-threatening tackle.
“It is Chelsea’s opinion that referees and the football authorities must do more to protect players at all levels of the game from dangerous challenges. This decision also clearly demonstrates a need for consistency and fairness in the disciplinary process.
“The club awaits The FA’s written reasons, prior to commenting further.”
A statement from the FA said: “In reaching this decision the members of the Regulatory Commission rejected the mitigation advanced by Nemanja Matic in respect of the provocation and tackle he received which led to his act of violent conduct.
“The violent response of Mr. Matic to the nature of the tackle cannot be condoned and does not vindicate his subsequent actions. The members of the Commission did, however, accept the mitigation in respect of the level of force used by Mr. Matic and the nature of the contact he made with Mr. Barnes of Burnley FC.
“Having made those considerations we determined that the standard punishment of a three-match suspension would be clearly excessive and, therefore, ordered that the suspension be reduced to two matches.”
Matic’s ban is to be served with immediate effect meaning José Mourinho will be out one of his key players as Chelsea contest the first piece of domestic silverware this season.
Burnley’s manager, Sean Dyche, has defended Barnes, saying his player had no intention of harming Matic and was trying to reach the ball to pass to Dave Jones.
“Once you are in that pendulum motion to play a pass I think it’s very hard to retract your leg immediately and stop your leg from going through that ball and then rising,” he said. “But I must make it clear, when you then see it after the event, slo-mo every angle, of course it doesn’t look a pleasant challenge – we all know that. But at live speed, these are expert people who have been in the game a long time who don’t react, don’t even flinch at that moment, other than Matic’s response.”
Source: Guardian
