FA will not review Barnes’s tackle

Burnley’s Ashley Barnes will face no disciplinary action for his challenge on Nemanja Matic, the Football Association have confirmed.

By The Newsroom

Published 23rd Feb 2015, 22:44 BST

Chelsea's Nemanja Matic, second left, reacts angrily following a challenge by Burnley's Ashley Barnes (Picture: Nick Potts/PA).

Barnes put in a full-blooded tackle on the Blues midfielder during Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge, leaving his foot up and studs showing as he made contact with Matic’s leg.

Having initially gone to ground in apparentpain, the Serbian ran towards Barnes and bundled him to the ground, earning a red card from referee Martin Atkinson.

Chelsea are reportedly set to appeal against Matic’s three-game ban, but manager Jose Mourinho had also suggested that action should be taken against Barnes, who was not even cautioned.

But the FA revealed they would not be punishing the Clarets forward, stating: “In the vast majority of challenges for the ball, no retrospective action is taken as the incident has been seen by the match officials.”