Chelsea's Serbian midfielder Nemanja Matic had his ban reduced from three games to two on Tuesday which means he will still miss Sunday's League Cup final against Tottenham at Wembley.

The 26-year-old was shown a straight red card, for pushing Burnley striker Ashley Barnes to the ground, after a violent challenge that Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said "could have ended his career".

The English Football Association (FA) and their independent regulatory commission reduced the ban although Chelsea's appeal had requested that a suspension be completely overturned.

The club said in a statement that they were "extremely disappointed and frustrated" that one of their key players must still serve a ban.

As well as the prestige final at Wembley, Matic will also miss the Premier League match against West Ham at Upton Park on March 4.

The statement went on to say published under a headline 'Chelsea FC appalled with the FA's decision on Matic' said the board was unhappy that the commission decided against reducing the ban by the "maximum extent permitted under FA rules".

It added: "There has been universal condemnation of the reckless challenge made by Ashley Barnes on Matic and it is the club's view that he has been unjustly punished with a two-match ban for his reaction to a career-threatening tackle."