MATIC BAN: NO MATTER WHAT, YOU CANNOT REACT THE WAY HE DID!

It was a disgusting tackle and that of a straight red card. A potential leg breaker and bearing on cynical. Despite that, you simply cannot react the way Nemanja Matic did on Saturday!

I have seen the news that his ban has been reduced from three games to two matches (meaning that he misses the Capital One Cup final on Sunday and West Ham next week), I have seen the statement from Chelsea stating that they are appalled by the decision to not reduce the ban to one game but what on earth did they expect the FA to do?

The statement from Chelsea reads as below:

"The Chelsea Football Club Board is extremely disappointed and frustrated that the FA Regulatory Commission has today decided not to reduce Nemanja Matic’s suspension to the maximum extent permitted under FA rules.

Chelsea FC challenged the standard three-match suspension which automatically followed the red card issued to Matic by referee Martin Atkinson during Saturday’s Premier League match against Burnley.

There has been universal condemnation of the reckless challenge made by Ashley Barnes on Matic and it is the club’s view that he has been unjustly punished with a two-match ban for his reaction to a career-threatening tackle.

It is Chelsea’s opinion that referees and the football authorities must do more to protect players at all levels of the game from dangerous challenges. This decision also clearly demonstrates a need for consistency and fairness in the disciplinary process.

The club awaits The FA’s written reasons, prior to commenting further."

We all know the rules of the game and we have seen players being sent off for tackles less than Ashley Barnes' on Saturday. We have seen players get sent off for retaliation such as Didier Drogba's famous flick to the face in the Champions League final in Moscow but, once you push a player to the floor like Matic did it was ALWAYS going to be a red card.

I can understand his initial reaction of anger to the challenge but what happened afterwards has hampered our preparations for the Cup Final this weekend.

He was always going to miss the final as soon as he did what he did and if anything, I personally believe that we are lucky to have the ban rescinded from three to two games.

What do you people think of Matic's reaction and the reduction to the ban?