Premier League issue explanation as Chelsea star sent off after elbowing Newcastle man

The Premier League's Match Centre account has explained the decision to send off striker Nicolas Jackson during the Blues' trip to . The Senegal international was initially shown a yellow card after catching Sven Botman with an elbow, but it was upgraded to red following a VAR check.

"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 Match Centre account wrote on social media. "The referee then upgraded the yellow to a red card."

The decision is a double blow for Enzo Maresca's side in their push for qualification. Not only did they find themselves without Jackson for more than half the game, but he will be suspended for the remainder of the season.

Chelsea, who fell behind to a Sandro Tonali goal in the second minute at St James' Park and ended up losing 2-0, have two more games on the horizon as they look to finish in the top five and clinch a Champions League spot. They host in their penultimate game, followed by a trip to on the final day.

"That has thrown a spanner in the works. Where do Chelsea go now?" co-commentator Ally McCoist asked on TNT Sports. "I don't think Nicolas Jackson can have any complaints."

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"It was dangerous from Jackson. He knows he is not going to win the ball and sometimes you think you are just going to go in and make the collision happen," women's captain Rachel Corsie said during Radio 5 Live coverage. "One thing is I don't quite think he meant to make the contact on the jaw."

Jackson's suspension won't affect his availability in Europe. The former Villarreal man scored twice in the Conference League semi-final first leg against Djurgardens, helping Maresca's team progress to the final in Wroclaw.

Chelsea also saw Enzo Fernandez pick up a yellow card towards the end of the first half, and have more bookings than any other Premier League clubs this term. They have only seen two players sent off in the competition, though, with .

Jackson's red card wasn't the only VAR incident during the weekend's Premier League programme. Referee Darren England was called to the monitor in the closing stages of Everton's win at to look at a potential penalty for handball against Toffees defender Vitalii Mykolenko, and deny Fulham a spot-kick.

"VAR checked the referee’s call of no penalty for a possible handball by Mykolenko – and deemed that his arm way away from his body, therefore recommended an on-field review," the Premier League Match Centre account explained. "Upon review, the referee deemed that Mykolenko’s arm was in a justifiable position given his actions and retained the original decision of no penalty."

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