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FA to take no action on Burnley's Ashley Barnes for tackle on Matic

The FA has said it will not be taking retrospective action against Burnley's Ashley Barnes for his tackle on Chelsea's Nemanja Matic at the weekend.

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho criticised Barnes for a "criminal tackle" after Matic was sent off for his reaction where he pushed the Burnley striker to the ground.

However, as the offence was seen by match official Martin Atkinson, the FA has no power to ban Barnes for the incident and explained its position in a series of tweets.

Chelsea are reportedly set to appeal against the three-game ban given to Matic for his red card, but Mourinho had also suggested that action should be taken against Barnes.

The Portuguese told Sky's Goals on Sunday programme that the Barnes tackle was at least as bad as one that had earned his striker Diego Costa a three-game ban last month.

"I would like to know how do you, Sky Sports, describe the actions of the Burnley player yesterday? My English is not good enough to find a word," Mourinho said.

"When you think 'Diego crimes' after he puts his boot on a hand, when this is 'Diego crimes,' the minimum you have to say is 'criminal tackle' [by Barnes].

''When Diego Costa has a three-match ban, probably three matches to Matic... tell me how many matches this player deserves?"

Referee Atkinson's performance was condemned by ex-official Keith Hackett, who told talkSPORT it was "very, very poor."

Atkinson is on fourth official duty at Manchester United vs Sunderland on Saturday because the Premier League fixture list is reduced due to the Capital One Cup final.

Information from the Press Association was used in this report.

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