Chelsea’s bid to cancel Reece James’s suspension for the beginning of next season has failed.
The Blues were hoping to have their club captain available at the start of the new Premier League campaign.
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However, coach Enzo Maresca will have to do without his talisman for at least three games.
The club had claimed that James was disoriented as he had just been fouled from behind, but that has been refuted.
The FA’s independent regulatory commission unanimously refused the explanation.
James kicked out at Brighton’s Joao Pedro in a petulant and potentially dangerous manner.