Chelsea suffer potentially season-defining Nicolas Jackson red card blow

Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson is set to miss the rest of the Premier League campaign after he had a yellow card upgraded to a straight red against Newcastle United on Sunday afternoon.

Newcastle had taken the lead less than two minutes into this crucial clash for Champions League qualification at St James' Park. Both clubs started the day in the division's top five, but any dropped points could prove detrimental with Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest lurking menacingly in sixth and seventh.

Jackson had been limited to just seven touches before he made forceful contact with Sven Botman's chin half an hour into the contest. The pair were ostensibly challenging for a long punt forward, although replays clearly showed Jackson take his eyes off the ball before planting his forearm on the Newcastle centre-back.

The Premier League's official Match Centre X account explained the sequence of events which led to Jackson's dismissal: "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."

Law 12 in the FA handbook describes serious foul play as "a tackle or challenge that endangers the safety of an opponent or uses excessive force or brutality".

The typical ban for a red card to punish "serious foul play" stands at three games. Unless Chelsea can successfully appeal Brooks' decision, Enzo Maresca will be without his first-choice striker for the rest of the Premier League campaign, missing next Friday's visit from Manchester United and the season-ending clash with fellow Champions League chasers Nottingham Forest.

Jackson, however, will be available for the upcoming Conference League final against Real Betis as suspensions for Premier League red cards do not carry over to continental competitions.

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