• Premier League

Hazard's ban pegged at three games

ESPN staff
January 31, 2013
Eden Hazard will serve a three-game suspension © PA Photos
Enlarge

The Football Association has decided not to increase Chelsea midfielder Eden Hazard's three-match suspension.

Hazard was charged by the FA following his side's League Cup semi-final at Swansea City on January 23, a game that saw the Chelsea man sent off for tangling with a ballboy.

He was hit with an automatic three-match suspension, but the FA had the option of increasing the ban. However, an independent regulatory commission deemed the initial punishment sufficient.

A statement from the FA read: "Chelsea's Eden Hazard will not have his standard three-match sanction for violent conduct increased.

"Following a hearing earlier today [Thursday 31 January 2013], an independent regulatory commission was of the opinion the existing three-match sanction for this offence was sufficient."

Chelsea subsequently expressed their relief that the Belgian would not be punished further.

In a statement released on Thursday evening, the club said: "Despite our disappointment that the FA felt it necessary to take it as far as today's hearing, Chelsea are satisfied that good sense finally prevailed and no extra games were added."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Close

ABOUT COOKIES

To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies.

More Info Here Cookie Choices