- Burnley’s central defender James Tarkowski banned for three games
- Tarkowski accepted charged following off-the-ball incident with Glenn Murray
- Sean Dyche believes it was harsh and urged the FA to crack down on diving first
Burnley defender James Tarkowski will miss his side’s next three matches after he accepted a Football Association charge of violent conduct.
The highly-rated 25-year-old elbowed Brighton forward Glenn Murray in the 35th minute of their 0-0 draw in the Premier League on Saturday.
Tarkowski and his club tried to argue that the three-game suspension was excessive but this was rejected by an independent regulatory commission.
James Tarkowski was charged with violent conduct after an incident with Glenn Murray
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The incident was missed by the referee but video footage emerged of Tarkowski digging an elbow into Murray’s ribs which led to him being charged retrospectively by the FA.
Burnley boss Sean Dyche said he felt the charge was harsh and urged the FA to concentrate on sorting out simulation first before anything else.
‘I think, there’s no suggestion there wasn’t contact with the elbow, but I think we’re suggesting people go down rather easily now, we can suggest that,’ he said.
‘I didn’t see it at the time, I’ve seen it since, but that’s for them to pick the bones out of. I’ll be careful with my words now, but there have been some interesting cases recently.
‘We need to fine tune one or two things. I’m big on simulation, and it’s going on all across the pitch across the league. If they’re clamping down on things, it certainly should be in balance to that and include that.
‘You have to be careful, if you’re going to start opening everything up, I’d start with simulation.
Tarkowski has been hit with a three-game suspension and is unavailable until the New Year
‘I’d solve that before we worry about anything else.’
Tarkowski has been in fine fettle this season, helping The Clarets to establish the joint best defensive record in the top tier. They have conceded just 12 goals.
The 25-year-old has become a stalwart in Dyce’s defence ever since Michael Keane’s departure for Everton in the summer, and his performances so far this campaign has led to calls for his inclusion in Gareth Southgate’s England squad.
He has played in all 18 of Burnley’s Premier League games so far and a ban at this pivotal time of the season could threaten to derail their push for a European spot.
With games against Tottenham, Manchester United and Huddersfield coming up, who are also vying for a place in Europe, losing Tarkowski comes as a bitter blow for Dyche.
The defender has not been sent off since joining Burnley in February 2016 but now misses the crucial festive period and is unavailable until the visit of Liverpool on New Year’s Day.
Sean Dyche believes the charge was harsh and urged the FA to crack down on diving first