Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson will no longer feature for the Premier League side this season.
Jackson was shown a red card for “serious foul play” during Chelsea’s 2-0 defeat to Newcastle United in Sunday’s early kick-off.
The Magpies opened the scoring after just two minutes through Sandro Tonali.
Chelsea’s challenge intensified when Jackson was dismissed for elbowing Sven Botman. Referee John Brooks initially issued a yellow card, but following a VAR review at the pitchside monitor, he upgraded the decision to a straight red.
Despite being reduced to ten men, Chelsea managed to create a handful of opportunities in the second half. However, Bruno Guimarães sealed the win for Newcastle with a goal in stoppage time.
The result sees Newcastle climb to third in the table with 66 points, while Chelsea remain fifth on 63.
Explaining the decision, the PGMOL said: “VAR checked the referee’s call of yellow card to Jackson – and deemed that the challenge by Jackson on Botman was a serious foul play offence, therefore recommended an on-field review.
“The referee then upgraded the yellow to a red card.”
Jackson’s red card comes with a three-match suspension, ruling him out of Chelsea’s final two Premier League fixtures against Manchester United and Nottingham Forest, as well as the first league match of next season.
However, the Senegalese forward remains eligible to play in the Europa Conference League final against Real Betis on 28 May.
