Reece James is charged by the FA after allegedly confronting the referee after Chelsea’s defeat to Aston Villa despite the Blues captain missing the game through injury

• Chelsea lost the tie 1-0 but James is said to have acted in the tunnel afterwards
• He has missed the last few games through injury but had been close to a return
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Chelsea captain Reece James has been charged by the Football Association after allegedly confronting the referee following the Blues’ defeat to Aston Villa.

The England full-back missed Sunday’s game through injury and watched on as Chelsea’s poor start to the season continued with a 1-0 loss at Stamford Bridge.

The hosts had Malo Gusto sent off after his booking for a challenge on Lucas Digne was upgraded to a red card following a VAR review and James has now been charged with confronting referee Jarred Gillett.

‘Reece James has been charged with a breach of FA Rule E3 following Chelsea’s Premier League game against Aston Villa on Sunday, 24 September,’ the FA announced in a statement on Wednesday.

‘It’s alleged that the defender used improper and/or insulting and/or abusive words and/or behaviour towards a match official in the tunnel after the game.

Reece James has been charged after he confronted the referee after Chelsea’s loss to Aston Villa on Sunday

Chelsea continued their poor form as they lost 1-0 with full-back Malo Gusto sent off in the game at Stamford Bridge

James hasn’t played for the club since the opening day of the season after suffering an injury

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‘Reece James has until Friday, 29 September to provide a response to this charge.’

As a result of the Villa loss, Chelsea sit 14th in the table and have won just one of their six Premier League games under new head coach Mauricio Pochettino.

James was given the captain’s armband by Pochettino ahead of the new campaign but came off injured just 76 minutes into the 1-1 draw with Liverpool on the opening weekend.

He has not played since as he continues to struggle with the issue in which is the latest in what has been a string of problems.

Referee Jarred Gillett had originally shown Gusto a yellow card before changing his decision after a VAR review

Ben Chilwell had been named Chelsea vice captain but has been a substitute in the last two matches in the league

Fellow full-back Ben Chilwell had been named the vice captain of the club but has been named on the bench in the last two matches, coming on as a substitute in both before getting booked.

The Blues have lost three of their first six matches this season – to West Ham, Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa – with two draws and just the solitary win, versus Luton.

James had been expected to return soon but the result of his charge is yet to be disclosed. The Blues, meanwhile, will be without a natural right-back at Gusto begins his suspension against Fulham this weekend.

He will add to the lengthy list of unavailable Chelsea players which also includes Christopher Nkunku, Wesley Fofana and Romeo Lavia. Nicolas Jackson will also serve a one-game suspension after picking up five yellow cards.

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