Nicolas Jackson is suspended for Chelsea’s final Club World Cup group match against ES Tunis tonight.
The Senegal international was dismissed just four minutes after coming off the bench in Friday’s Group D clash with Brazilian side Flamengo, who came from behind to seal a 3-1 win.
It came just as his side had conceded two goals to surrender their first-half lead, leaving his teammates and manager Enzo Maresca in a desperate situation.
Jackson caught Flamengo defender Ayrton Lucas high as he clamped down on the defender to earn his second straight red card in just over a month.
The 24-year-old was given his marching orders in the Premier League meeting against Newcastle United in May. Just 36 minutes into the match, Jackson was judged to have elbowed Sven Botman, earning himself an early bath.
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That indiscretion earned him a three-match ban, missing the final games of the 2024-25 league season against Manchester United and Nottingham Forest. He will also miss the opening game of the new season against Crystal Palace.
A red card in the Club World Cup means Jackson is now facing another enforced absence in the early hours of Wednesday morning against ES Tunis.
How many games will Nicolas Jackson be banned for at Club World Cup?
Red cards earn a player a one-match suspension in Club World Cup games. Fifa’s guidance states: ‘Any player or official given a red card will miss their team’s subsequent match. In addition, further sanctions – e.g. an additional suspension or a fine – may be imposed.
‘Red cards will not be wiped at any point during the tournament. If a player is sent off during the semi-finals, he will be suspended for the final.’
However, FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee have reviewed the incident and have now decided to extend Jackson’s ban for two games after the challenge was deemed serious foul play.
Boca Juniors duo Ander Herrera and Nicolas Figal were this week handed four-match bans after being sent off in their side’s opening game of the competition against Benfica on Monday.
Herrera was dismissed after he was seen grappling with a member of staff as he tried to approach the referee towards the end of the first-half with his indiscretion filed under ‘unsportsmanlike conduct’.
Figal meanwhile was shown a straight red card for a foul on Florentino Luis in the 88th minute with his suspension for violent conduct – a charge Jackson could also face.
What matches will Nicolas Jackson miss at Club World Cup?
Nicolas Jackson will certainly be ruled out of Chelsea’s final group game against Tunisian side ES Tunis, which kicks off at 2am in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
And the striker will now miss Chelsea’s first game of the knockout stages should the Blues progress to that stage of the competition.
Chelsea need a draw or a win against ES Tunis tonight to progress to the knockout stages where Benfica or Bayern Munich await.
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