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Chelsea defender Reece James has been charged by the Football Association (FA) for using \u2018abusive words\u2019 towards a match official in the tunnel following Sunday\u2019s home defeat to Aston Villa.<\/p>\n
Chelsea news, exclusives and analysis<\/p>\n
James is currently out injured with a hamstring injury and has not featured since the first Premier League game of the season.<\/p>\n
\u2018Reece James has been charged with a breach of FA Rule E3 following Chelsea\u2019s Premier League game against Aston Villa,\u2019 read a statement from the FA on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\u2018It\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
\u2018Reece James has until Friday, 29 September, to provide a response to this charge.\u2019<\/p>\n
Chelsea\u2019s 1-0 loss to Villa at Stamford Bridge is just the latest low point for the Blues, who have won just one of their opening six Premier League games this term.<\/p>\n
Head coach Mauricio Pochettino is already under significant pressure and some have speculated that he could lose his job if Chelsea fail to win their next two Premier League games against Fulham and Burnley respectively.<\/p>\n
Things are not much better off the pitch, with Chelsea\u2019s hierarchy also attracting plenty of criticism for how they are running the club.<\/p>\n
Chelsea have spent over \u00a31 billion on transfers since co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali took over from Roman Abramovich but they have hugely struggled with a 12th-place finish last term before this season\u2019s slow start.<\/p>\n
\u2018It\u2019s a mystery as to what\u2019s happening at Chelsea,\u2019 Gary Neville said about the west Londoners on Sunday. \u2018Sometimes chaos just flows throughout a club. I think there will be some changes in how they go about their business. I can\u2019t see this lasting in terms of how it\u2019s being run. It\u2019s madness.\u2019<\/p>\n