Reece James has been handed a one-match ban by the FA, and he has also been slammed with a fine of £90,000 due to an incident that occurred in the tunnel after Chelsea’s 1-0 loss to Aston Villa on September 24, 2023.
The Chelsea captain admitted to using “improper and abusive words and behavior” towards referee Jarred Gillett.
James was said to have had an altercation with Gillett after the game on Sunday, September 24, 2023, and he allegedly swore at the Englishman in the tunnel.
The 23-year-old didn’t play any part in the clash against Unai Emery’s Aston Villa due to a hamstring injury that he suffered in training.
He last featured for Chelsea at the start of the season, in a 1-1 draw with Liverpool at Stamford Bridge.
Reece James’ injury woes have continued this season, having been absent from the majority of matches in the 2022/23 season.
Reece James given one-match ban by FA
In a statement released by the FA on October 4, 2023, they stated that James was adequately punished for “breaching FA Rule E3”.
Their statement read: “Reece James has been given a one-match suspension and 90,000 fine for breaching FA Rule E3 at Chelsea’s Premier League match against Aston Villa on Sunday, September 24, 2023.
“The defender admitted he used improper, insulting, and abusive words and behavior towards a match official in the tunnel after the final whistle.”
The FA also stated that written reasons for meting out these aforementioned punishments on Reece James “will be published at the earliest opportunity”.
Chelsea completed the encounter against Aston Villa with 10 men after defender Malo Gusto was dismissed in the 58th minute for dangerous play.
VAR beckoned on referee Jarred Gillett to check the pitchside monitor, and after the needed review, he sent off Gusto, having initially given the Frenchman a yellow card for a foul on Lucas Digne.
Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea sit 11th in the Premier League, with 2 wins from 7 league matches, drawing 2, and losing the other 3.
Jurgen Klopp wants Liverpool-Tottenham clash to be replayed
Meanwhile, Jurgen Klopp has requested that the Premier League game involving Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool be replayed, after it was confirmed that Luis Diaz’s goal was wrongly disallowed for offside.
Video Assistant Referee Darren England and assistant Dan Cook did not rescind the decision made by on-field referee Simon Hooper to chalk off Diaz’s goal for offside.
Tottenham Hotspur defeated Liverpool by 2-1, courtesy of goals from Heung-Min Son, and a 96th-minute unfortunate own goal from Joel Matip.
Cody Gakpo scored the equalizer in the 4th minute of additional time in the first half to bring the game to parity, before Matip’s own goal decided the affair.
Speaking on Wednesday ahead of Liverpool’s Europa League game against Union St. Gilloise, Jurgen Klopp called for the game to be replayed.
He said: “Something like this never happened, so that is why I think a replay is the right thing to do.”
Klopp was also asked if Liverpool had or would ask the Premier League for a replay, the German tactician said: “At this stage, we are still going through the information we have.”
Despite Liverpool requesting for the audio recording of the discussions between match officials which led to the decision, Jurgen Klopp said that the “audio didn’t change” their stance.
The 56-year-old added that since it is known to be an “obvious mistake”, there should be a solution for it.
Klopp suggested that the possible solution “should be a replay. But it probably won’t happen”.
Liverpool slumped to 4th in the Premier League, following the loss at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Klopp isn’t angry with match officials involved in the decision
However, Jurgen Klopp has said he isn’t angry with the individuals involved in the decision, saying:
“I am not angry with anybody at all. They made a mistake and they felt horrible that night, I am 100% sure.
“That’s enough, for me. Nobody needs further punishment.”
The Reds also had two players sent off in the game against Spurs, with Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota dismissed for engaging in dangerous play.
