Chelsea to Appeal Matic’s Red Card against Burnley

Chelsea will lodge an appeal to the Football Association against the red card shown to midfielder Nemanja Vidic in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Burnley.

Matic received a straight red for lashing out at Ashley Barnes after a woeful tackle in the 69th minute.
The Premier League leaders have until 13:00GMT on Tuesday to submit their evidence to the Football Association.

Chelsea to Appeal Nemanja Matic’s Red Card against Burnley. Image: Getty.

An independent three-man disciplinary commission will review the incident before the Blues’ League Cup final against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday. Meanwhile, the Chelsea board are understood to be comfortable and throwing weight behind manager Jose Mourinho’s comment about Barnes and referees on Sky programme ‘Goals’ on Sunday (yesterday).
The Portuguese claimed the challenge by the Burnley striker was “criminal” and could have ended the Serb’s career, while also suggesting “Chelsea could be 12 points clear” of Manchester City had decisions gone their way.
“Football is about emotions and clearly Nemanja Matic had a reason to lose his emotions,” Mourinho defended the 26-year-old for pushing Barnes to the ground.
“What are the consequences of his push? Nothing. The consequence for Matic from the tackle? It could be the end of his career.
“If you call Diego Costa’s actions against Liverpool a crime, the minimum you have to say is this is a criminal tackle.”
On perceived injustice against his side, Mourinho said: “I am not attacking the honesty, the dignity of anyone. I am not trying to- and in this country you love this sentence- ‘bring the game into disrepute.’ I am trying to be honest.
“If we are in a normal situation when decision sometimes go for us, sometimes go against us, we could be five points clear, we could be 12. It could be 12 points.”
Reports had suggested the wide-ranging interview with Sky Sports was conducted at the 52-year-old’s request, but the club insists the he was invited on the programme after a long-standing request was granted on Saturday evening.