Chelsea captain James hit with FOUR-match ban after ‘painful’ red card Against Brighton
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Chelsea’s captain, Reece James, won’t be playing in the final game of the season or the first three games of the next season. This is because he got a red card during Wednesday’s game against Brighton, which Chelsea won 2-1.
His suspension is not only bad news for Chelsea but also for his chances of playing in Euro 2024. He was hoping to prove his fitness to Gareth Southgate, the England manager, before Southgate picks the squad for the tournament next week.
James had been out with a hamstring injury for five months before making his return. He was aiming to show his worth and maybe get a spot in the England squad. But things didn’t go as planned.
During the Brighton game, just 17 minutes after coming in as a substitute, James got sent off for kicking out at Brighton’s Joao Pedro. This wasn’t his first red card of the season. He got one earlier in the season too, against Newcastle in November. Because of this, his ban has been extended to three games.
Missing these games is a big blow for Chelsea, especially since they need just one point in their final match against Bournemouth to secure a spot in Europe next season.
Mauricio Pochettino, Chelsea’s head coach, called James’ red card a “painful” setback. He expressed his disappointment, acknowledging James’ importance to the team. Now, Chelsea will have to cope without him for the upcoming games.
