EXCLUSIVE: FA FUMES at Chelsea's decision to keep Reece James in Milan

EXCLUSIVE: FA FUMES at Chelsea’s decision to keep Reece James in Milan amid serious knee injury concerns… with the right-back set to MISS the World Cup after being ruled out for up to eight weeks

  • Chelsea confirmed that Reece James would miss the World Cup due to injury
  • The right-back has been ruled out for up to eight weeks after damaging his knee
  • The FA are angry with the west London club for keeping him in Milan last week
  • James returned without medical support and his knee was not put in a brace
  • The 22-year-old defender is not giving up on Qatar despite his injury setback

The FA are unhappy with Chelsea’s treatment of Reece James, who the club confirmed on Saturday would miss the World Cup with a knee injury sustained in their Champions League win over AC Milan last Tuesday.

The England defender hobbled off in the second half of Chelsea’s 2-0 win in the San Siro, but manager Graham Potter gave him permission to stay in Milan to spend a day off with team-mates rather than returning to London for immediate treatment.

FA staff are understood to have queried why James was allowed to stay in Milan given the potentially serious nature of the injury, which is set to rule him out for up to eight weeks and cost him a place in Gareth Southgate’s World Cup squad.

Chelsea confirmed that England’s Reece James would miss the World Cup due to a knee injury 

The right-back suffered his injury during the Blues’ 2-0 triumph against AC Milan in midweek

The 22-year-old flew back to London on Wednesday evening and had a scan the following day and had a scan the following day which showed he had sustained knee ligament damage. 

James returned to London on an easyJet plane without medical support and his knee was not in a brace, though he was given extra leg room on the flight. Earlier in the day he had posed for pictures with Chelsea fans while appearing to be sightseeing in Milan. 

James saw a specialist yesterday and there are no immediate plans for surgery, which may increase his chances of making the World Cup, although that is seen as a long shot. 

The west London club decided to keep James in Milan despite the serious nature of his injury

He is refusing to give up hope, as he has always been a quick healer. Chelsea are also unlikely to rush him back as he has emerged as a key player under Potter.

Chelsea are understood to be standing by their handling of James, who held talks with Potter and club medical staff at the San Siro on Tuesday evening before it was decided he could stay in Milan for the pre-planned day off with several team-mates.

The injury worsened overnight however, and after speaking to the medical team on Wednesday morning he flew back that night. 

Graham Potter’s in-form side travel to the west Midlands to face Aston Villa away on Sunday

Chelsea’s medical team have stayed in touch throughout with their counterparts at the FA, who believe James should have returned to London straight away. 

Given Chelsea have nine matches in the next four weeks there is bewilderment at Wembley at the club’s willingness to let at injured player spend an additional night abroad even without the added complication of the World Cup. 

James’s absence in Qatar is particularly frustrating for Southgate as he is set to be without another right-back in Kyle Walker after groin surgery.




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