Reece James has been fined £90,000 by the FA and handed a one-game ban due to his use of “improper, abusive, and insulting” language and behavior towards a match official following Chelsea’s 1-0 loss to Aston Villa last month.
Despite being appointed club captain in the summer, James has already missed eight matches due to a hamstring injury sustained in August.
The 23-year-old, who has been in the stands during his recovery, confronted match officials in the tunnel after the recent defeat to Aston Villa. The FA charged James, and it has been confirmed that he will serve a one-game suspension for directing improper and abusive words towards referee Jarred Gillet or one of his assistants. This suspension means he will be unavailable for the upcoming match against Burnley, regardless of his current fitness status.
In its statement, the FA explained, “Reece James has been given a one-game suspension and a £90,000 fine for breaching FA Rule E3 at Chelsea’s Premier League match against Aston Villa on Sunday, 24 September. An independent Regulatory Commission imposed these sanctions following a hearing, and its written reasons for them will be published at the earliest opportunity.
Chelsea is anticipating James’s return to action in the home Premier League game against Arsenal on October 21. Meanwhile, Mauricio Pochettino had Malo Gusto sent off, and Marc Cucurella had to adapt to an unfamiliar right-back position in the absence of Ben Chilwell, who is sidelined for at least two months with a hamstring injury.