Chelsea was surprised after Nemanja Matic's three-game suspension was reduced to two.
Daily Mail reported that during Chelsea's match on Saturday, Ashley Barnes tackled Matic in "criminal" fashion which could have broken the latter's leg or even ended his career. Matic reacted violently after realizing what Barnes could have done and was removed from the match. He pushed Barnes to the turf and got a red card while the Burnley forward did not get anything from referee Martin Atkinson.
His reaction also garnered him a three-game ban, but was reduced to two games, which still means that he will not be present at the Capital One Cup final against Tottenham on Sunday and the Premier League game at West Ham on March 4.
Daily Star reported that Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho was angry that Barnes suffered a red card plus a three-game penalty while Barnes did not face any consequences.
Former footballer Gary Neville said, "Ashley Barnes is lucky. He would have had a tarnished career if he had have broken Matic's leg."
"He hasn't done and he's got away with it. Matic will miss a cup final for pushing someone, who has put a terrible tackle on him. It doesn't feel right but it was inevitable."
He added, "We can try and dress it up, and only Barnes will know but in my view - and I did it myself, so I'm not sitting here judging Barnes as a saint - I think he knows what he's doing."
When Mourinho and the Premier League leaders appealed the Football Association's sentence against Matic, they were surprised that the regulatory commission only reduced the suspension by one game, instead of two.
Roger Burden, chairman of the commission, stated in a Guardian report, "In reaching this decision the members of the regulatory commission rejected the mitigation advanced by Nemanja Matic in respect of the provocation and tackle he received which led to his act of violent conduct. The violent response of Mr Matic to the nature of the tackle cannot be condoned and does not vindicate his subsequent actions."
Chelsea stated that there has to be more consistency in how football authorities decide every case and more protection should be given to players, considering how Barnes walked away from such intentions which could have left the midfielder's leg broken.
Chelsea stated on their website that the club was appalled with the FA's decision on Matic and how there should be a universal condemnation of the reckless challenge by Barnes on Matic.