Reece James slapped with FA charge for alleged tunnel incident after Aston Villa defeat

Reece James has been charged by the FA for an alleged tunnel incident after the club's defeat to Aston Villa.

The right-back was charged by the FA for “using abusive language towards the referee”.

The incident happened during Sunday’s Premier League clash with Aston Villa, a game for which James was sidelined due to injury.

Indeed, the England international is said to have confronted match official Jarred Gillett in the tunnel after the game.

A statement from the FA read: “Reece James has been charged with a breach of FA Rule E3 following Chelsea’s Premier League game against Aston Villa on Sunday, 24 September.

“It’s alleged that the defender used improper and/or insulting and/or abusive words and/or behaviour towards a match official in the tunnel after the game. Reece James has until Friday, 29 September, to provide a response to this charge.”

James is not expected back from injury until late in October."

Chelsea fell to a 1-0 defeat, with the Villans having beaten the Blues in back-to-back league games for the first time in 30 years.

Meanwhile, Mauricio Pochettino's side have made their worst start to a top-flight season after the opening six games since 1978/79.

Chelsea face Brighton tonight in the Carabao Cup before making the short trip to Fulham on Monday in the Premier League.

A longer trip to Burnley awaits five days later before the October international break. The result sees Chelsea languishing in 14th place with just five points this season.

Mauricio Pochettino said after the game: "We need to grow up like a team, not only in an individual way. A player like Nicolas [Jackson] is so young and is feeling [into] the Premier League and learning.

"He needs time, and in this type of game, we are competing and want to win. But the players, when they are young, need to learn with experience and make a mistake.

"That is why we feel disappointed because we are paying [for] too many situations like this. Things like this is another small detail and in the end, we are losing the game. We are in a situation we need to change as soon as possible."

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