Chelsea Suffer ‘Painful’ Blow As Reece James Gets Extended Four-Match Ban

Chelsea captain, Reece James is facing a setback at the start of the next Premier League season after being given a red card during the match against Brighton.

Reece James was sent off during Wednesday night’s game at the Amex Stadium for kicking out Joao Pedro, just 17 minutes after coming on as a substitute.

This means he’ll miss Chelsea’s final match of the season on Sunday against Bournemouth, a crucial game for European qualification.

The suspension is particularly disappointing for James, who was hoping to prove his fitness to England manager Gareth Southgate ahead of the 2024 Euros.

However, this is his second red card this season, so his ban has been extended to four matches, stretching into the next season.

While Chelsea secured a win over Brighton, guaranteeing them sixth spot and European qualification, manager Mauricio Pochettino lamented James’s “painful” sending off, acknowledging his importance to the team.

Pochettino said: “It’s difficult to give my opinion because I didn’t have time to see the action. But it’s painful [for us] because it’s a fantastic night of football and he’s a really important player. Now he is going to miss the next game and a few games next season.”

Reece James has struggled with injuries this season, making just five starts after taking on the captaincy last summer. His return against Nottingham Forest last Saturday showed promise, but this latest setback could affect his chances of international selection for Euro 2024.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid star, Jude Bellingham couldn’t help but laugh after watching his father imitate his iconic celebration in the stands on Tuesday.