- Target:
- The Football Association
- Region:
- GLOBAL
- Website:
- www.thefa.com
During the 1-1 draw between Chelsea and Burnley at Stamford Bridge on Feb. 21, there were quite a few controversial calls, most of them in favor of The Clarets. Two of these calls (or more accurately, non-calls) involved Burnley striker Ashley Barnes.
He made one dirty tackle on Branislav Ivanovic and one on Nemanja Matić, the latter the action which ultimately caused the victim to be shown red. Although the sending off on Matić was a fair one, the fact that Barnes was not also penalized on either occasion make Jose Mourinho's claims of a campaign against Chelsea seem much more credible.
This foul on Matić, possibly the Premier League's worst of the season, could have potentially broken the victim's leg. The red card on Matić not only impacted the game, but it impacted the entire title race. The match should've finished 10 v. 10.
We, the undersigned, call on the Football Association to ban Nemanja Matić ov Chelsea for no more than two games in all competitions regarding his actions in the game at Stamford Bridge on Feb. 21.
We also call upon the Football Association to ban Ashley Barnes a minimum of five games in all competitions regarding his actions on the same day, as he made it extremely clear that he threatens the well-being of the players around him.