The Football Association has upheld Chelsea’s appeal against Nemanja Matic’s three-game ban following his violent conduct during last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Burnley.
The Serbian midfielder will now be suspended form Chelsea’s next two matches following Tuesday’s hearing by a three-man independent regulatory commission.
Matic received a straight red for lashing out at Ashley Barnes after a woeful tackle by the Burnley striker in the 69th minute of the game at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea confirmed on Monday it will contest referee’s Martin Atkinson’s decision, after manager Jose Mourinho had told Sky TV that Barnes’ tackle was “criminal” and could have ended Matic’s career.
Head of the regulatory commission, Roger Burden, upon reviewing video evidence provided said the committee “rejected the mitigation advanced by Nemanja Matic” as regards provocation and the innocuous tackle which led to his dissent.
Burden said: “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 will now miss Sunday’s Capital One Cup final against Tottenham Hotspur and next Wednesday’s trip to West Ham.
