June 24, (THEWILL) – FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee has handed Chelsea striker, Nicolas Jackson, a two-match suspension following his red card during the club’s 3-1 defeat to Flamengo at the Club World Cup. The 24-year-old Senegalese forward received the punishment after officials reviewed his studs-up challenge on Ayrton Lucas, which occurred just four minutes after he entered the match as a substitute.
The incident marked Jackson’s second dismissal in four matches across all competitions, prompting FIFA to extend what would have been an automatic one-match ban. The governing body’s Disciplinary Committee classified the tackle under serious foul play provisions, citing article 14 paragraph 1 e) of the FIFA Disciplinary Code. FIFA confirmed the decision cannot be appealed, making the suspension final and binding.
Jackson’s absence could significantly affect Chelsea’s remaining Club World Cup campaign, with the striker missing Tuesday’s final group-stage match against Esperance Sportive de Tunis. Should Chelsea advance to the knockout rounds, he will also sit out their potential last-16 fixture, leaving manager Enzo Maresca without one of his key attacking options during a crucial phase of the tournament.
The striker took to social media following the Flamengo match to apologise for his actions, acknowledging the impact his dismissal had on his team’s performance. His red card contributed to Chelsea’s disappointing result against the Brazilian side, which has complicated their path through the group stage of the expanded tournament format.
Chelsea must now navigate their final group match and potential knockout fixtures without Jackson’s goal threat, forcing tactical adjustments as they attempt to salvage their Club World Cup campaign. The suspension adds pressure on the club’s other forwards to step up during what remains a critical period in the tournament, with progression to the knockout stages still within reach despite the setback against Flamengo.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
