Blow for Chelsea as Ramires hit with suspension into next season
CHELSEA will be without midfielder Ramires for the remainder of the Premier League season, after the Brazilian accepted a Football Association charge of violent conduct and received a four-match ban.
Ramires was accused of elbowing Sunderland midfielder Seb Larsson during last Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge, an incident missed by referee Mike Dean and subsequently reviewed by a three-man panel.
The 27-year-old will sit out games against Liverpool, Norwich and Cardiff, plus the first domestic match of next season, but is eligible to play in Wednesday’s Champions League semi-final second leg against Atletico Madrid.
An FA statement read: “Chelsea midfielder Ramires has accepted a charge of violent conduct following an off-the-ball incident that was not seen by the match officials but caught on video.
“Ramires received a four-match ban which will start with immediate effect.
“The ban includes three games for this offence, plus an additional game for his sending off at Villa Park last month.”
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho and his assistant Rui Faria were also hit with FA misconduct charges for incidents in the same match and have until 6pm on Monday to respond.