Nemanja Matic: Chelsea 'appalled' with FA decision as ban is reduced to two games - leaving him out of the Capital One Cup final

Serbian midfielder will miss the Capital One Cup

Referee Martin Atkinson shows Nemanja Matic a red card (Getty Images)

Chelsea have been left "appalled" at the Football Association's decision to only reduce Nemanja Matic's ban to to two games.

The club appealed the red card issued by Martin Atikinson against Burnley on Saturday, but while an Independent Regulatory Commission agreed that the three-match suspension was excessive, they have reduced the ban to two games, meaning the Serbian midfielder will miss Sunday's Capital One Cup final against Tottenham.

A statement on the club website said: "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."

The FA statement read: "The violent response of Mr. Matic to the nature of the tackle cannot be condoned and does not vindicate his subsequent actions. The members of the Commission did, however, accept the mitigation in respect of the level of force used by Mr. Matic and the nature of the contact he made with Mr. Barnes of Burnley FC.

"Having made those considerations we determined that the standard punishment of a three-match suspension would be clearly excessive and, therefore, ordered that the suspension be reduced to two matches."

Matic will return to play West Ham on 4 March.