Jones banned for three games after red card appeal rejected

Liverpool’s attempt to overturn Curtis Jones’ red card during their controversial Premier League clash with Tottenham Hotspur has been unsuccessful. The 22-year-old midfielder was sent off for a high tackle on Yves Bissouma and will now serve a three-match ban as a result.

Initially, referee Simon Hooper showed Jones a yellow card for the challenge but upgraded it to a red after reviewing the incident on the pitchside monitor. Liverpool subsequently appealed the decision, but the club has confirmed that the appeal was unsuccessful.

In a statement, Liverpool said, “Curtis Jones is set to serve a three-match Premier League suspension after an appeal to overturn the red card he received at Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday was unsuccessful.”

As a result of the ban, Jones will miss Liverpool’s upcoming domestic fixtures against Brighton & Hove Albion, Everton, and Nottingham Forest this month. However, he will be available for the team’s Europa League match against Royale Union Saint-Gilloise on Wednesday night and their subsequent encounter with Toulouse on October 26.

Jones’ challenge sparked debate across the footballing world, with differing opinions on the severity of the incident. Gary Neville, for example, disagreed with the red card, stating, “It’s not a red card, but he’s going to get one and it’s going to ruin the game probably.” On the other hand, former Tottenham midfielder Jamie O’Hara described it as a “shocking challenge” and a “leg-breaker.”

In addition to Jones’ red card, Liverpool finished the game with nine men as Diogo Jota was also sent off for a second bookable offense. Jota will serve a one-game ban and will be unavailable for Liverpool’s upcoming match on Sunday.

Furthermore, Liverpool received a fine of £25,000 for accumulating eight cards during the match—a punishment typically imposed when a team receives six or more cards in a single game. Tottenham, in contrast, did not face any penalties as they received only five bookings.

Liverpool will now have to navigate their upcoming fixtures without Jones and Jota, as they aim to maintain their competitive form across multiple competitions.