Chelsea star Reece James is facing a possible suspension after being charged by the Football Association for using ‘abusive language’ towards a match official during their 1-0 defeat against Aston Villa. The defender did not even play in Sunday’s game at Stamford Bridge as he is still recovering from injury, but the club captain has landed himself in hot water after his alleged discrepancy was listed in the referee’s report.
The FA released a statement on Wednesday afternoon to confirm James has been charged. He has been given until Friday to respond to the accusation, which relates to an alleged incident that occurred after the final whistle on Sunday.
An FA statement read: “Reece James has been charged with a breach of FA Rule E3 following Chelsea’s Premier League game against Aston Villa on Sunday, 24 September.
“It’s alleged that the defender used improper and/or insulting and/or abusive words and/or behaviour towards a match official in the tunnel after the game. Reece James has until Friday, 29 September, to provide a response to this charge.”
The 23-year-old has been sidelined since the start of the season after being forced out with a hamstring injury. But he was present at Stamford Bridge in the stands, and it is alleged that James aimed words towards a match official – who has not been named – that breached the code of conduct in FA regulations.
Chelsea were reduced to 10 men when Malo Gusto was controversially sent off after VAR intervened to upgrade the on-field decision. The French defender was initially given a yellow card by referee Jared Gillett before he reviewed the decision via the pitchside monitor and decided to send him off instead.
The score had been deadlocked at 0-0 at that point but Mauricio Pochettino’s side conceded a 73rd-minute goal when Ollie Watkins struck a low effort underneath Robert Sanchez, and that was enough to seal the points, leaving the Blues with just one win from six games this season.
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