FANS want Reece James to be banned for an additional match after finding out his incredible excuse for his red card against Brighton.

The Chelsea captain lasted 19 minutes in just his second game since returning from injury as he was sent off against the Seagulls last month.

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James, 24, was fouled by Joao Pedro and then saw red as he lashed out, kicking the Brazilian as he ran past.

Chelsea appealed the red card and came up with a bizarre justification to try and get the defender’s ban overturned.

According to the Daily Mail, the club claim James was disorientated after being fouled by Pedro.

Chelsea add: “It had not been his intention to harm Mr Pedro, he was simply pushing him away with his foot.”

James missed the final game of the season against Bournemouth so has already served one game of his four-match ban, which was upped from the usual three as his red card against Brighton was his second of the season.

But fans want the ban to be increased as they believe the grounds used for appeal are ridiculous.

One supporter reacted saying: “Should get an extra game for stupid appeals like that.”

Another added: “Why appeal? It was a clear red card offense.”

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Chelsea are beyond a laughing stock

By Andy Dillon

CHELSEA’S longest serving manager under the club’s new owners has left by mutual consent.

The fact that Mauricio Pochettino lasted only 325 days underlines what a basket case of a club it has become.

You might expect a manager to lose his job after five games WITHOUT a win but only Chelsea could lose theirs after five wins on the spin.

When the supporters wrote an open letter to chairman Todd Boehly and his sidekick Behdad Eghbali in March, they expressed fears that their beloved Chelsea was becoming a ‘laughing stock on and off the pitch’.

It is way beyond that now with the departure of the manager who finally looked to be getting a tune out of a squad branded ‘£1billion bottle jobs’ just over two months ago as they crashed to defeat against Liverpool’s youth team in the Carabao Cup Final.

Read Andy Dillon’s full take on the sacking of Pochettino and what it means here.

A third wrote: “They should even add an extra for appealing.”

And another commented: “Why did he appeal for his stupidity.”