Curtis Jones’ Three-Match Ban Upheld After Unsuccessful Liverpool Appeal
Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones will serve his three-match ban for the red card he received during the 2-1 defeat at Tottenham following an unsuccessful appeal from the Reds. Jones was shown a yellow card for his tackle on Yves Bissouma during the first half of Saturday’s clash, only for referee Simon Hooper to change his punishment to a red card after being advised by the VAR to check the pitchside monitor.
Liverpool appealed the decision on Monday in a bid to see the midfielder’s three-game suspension removed, but the club have since confirmed that those attempts have failed. It was a contentious decision from Hooper, with Jones unfortunate to follow through on Bissouma after his foot slipped over the top of the ball. The decision to upgrade his punishment to a dismissal means the challenge was classed as serious foul play and therefore worthy of a three-game ban.
The Reds were hopeful that the decision would be overturned, as had been the case with Alexis Mac Allister’s red card against Bournemouth in August, but their appeal has been rejected. The images Hooper was shown on the monitor did not follow VAR protocol and that likely acted as encouragement for the Reds to launch their appeal.
The three-match ban means Jones will miss the upcoming meetings with Brighton, Everton and Nottingham Forest, with his return to domestic action set to come against Bournemouth in the League Cup. There was a possibility that the suspension would be increased to four matches had the appeal been deemed ‘frivolous’, but that is not concluded to be the case following the review.
Jones is eligible to feature in Thursday night’s Europa League clash with Union SG, with the punishment not applying in UEFA competitions.
Analysis of Curtis Jones’ Red Card
The red card shown to Curtis Jones was a controversial one, with many believing it was an overly harsh punishment for an incident which was more clumsy than malicious. Jones’ foot slipped over the top of the ball as he attempted to make a tackle on Yves Bissouma, and while it was a mistimed challenge, it was not one which warranted a red card.
The decision to upgrade his punishment to a dismissal means the challenge was classed as serious foul play and therefore worthy of a three-game ban. This has been upheld after Liverpool’s unsuccessful appeal, meaning Jones will miss three Premier League matches.
It is worth noting that the images Hooper was shown on the monitor did not follow VAR protocol and this likely acted as encouragement for Liverpool to launch their appeal. Had the appeal been deemed ‘frivolous’, there was a possibility that the suspension would be increased to four matches, but this has not been concluded to be the case following the review.
Curtis Jones’ Return
Jones will now miss three Premier League matches for Liverpool, with his return to domestic action set to come against Bournemouth in the League Cup. He is eligible to feature in Thursday night’s Europa League clash with Union SG, with the punishment not applying in UEFA competitions.
The 22-year-old has been an important part of Jurgen Klopp’s side this season, making six appearances in all competitions so far. He has made two Premier League starts and scored his first goal of the season in Liverpool’s 7-2 win over Lincoln City in the Carabao Cup.
Jones’ absence will be felt by Liverpool, but Klopp will be hoping that his side can cope without him and continue their strong start to the season. The Reds are currently top of the Premier League table after seven games and are looking to defend their title this season.
Conclusion
Curtis Jones’ three-match ban has been upheld after Liverpool’s unsuccessful appeal, meaning he will miss three Premier League matches for the Reds. The 22-year-old has been an important part of Jurgen Klopp’s side this season and his absence will be felt by Liverpool.
Jones is eligible to feature in Thursday night’s Europa League clash with Union SG, with the punishment not applying in UEFA competitions. He will be hoping to make an impact upon his return and help Liverpool continue their strong start to the season as they look to defend their Premier League title this year.