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Mikel has slammed "Stupid" Jackson red card as Chelsea's Club World Cup hopes take a hit
Former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel, a vocal critic of Jackson since his move to Stamford Bridge, did not hold back in his assessment after the striker received a direct red card.
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What happened
Chelsea's FIFA Club World Cup campaign hit a big snag with a 3-1 loss to Flamengo, a defeat that saw much of the criticism directed at striker Nicolas Jackson following his ill-advised red card.
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05:58 - 21.06.2025
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The incident, which occurred just minutes after Jackson entered the field as a substitute, reduced Chelsea to ten men and effectively extinguished their hopes of a comeback.
Jackson received a straight red for a dangerous challenge, reportedly a studs-up tackle on Flamengo's Ayrton Lucas.
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21:11 - 20.06.2025
Goal-shy Jackson SENT OFF as Flamengo humble Chelsea at FIFA Club World Cup
Chelsea suffered a huge upset, losing 3-1 to Brazilian side Flamengo in their second game of the Club World Cup.
This will result in an automatic one-game ban under FIFA rules, meaning he will miss Chelsea's next group stage match against ES Tunis.
The dismissal also carries over to the domestic season, with Jackson already set to miss Chelsea's first Premier League game against Crystal Palace due to a red card received against Newcastle at the end of last season.
What Mikel said
Mikel, on punditry duty for DAZN, who had previously criticised Noni Madueke in Chelsea's opening win against LAFC, expressed his dismay at Jackson's actions.
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"Unbelievable. Stupid, stupid, stupid mistake. I don’t know what is going through his head. Your team needs you and you do that," Mikel lamented.
He drew a parallel to Jackson's previous sending off, "He did that at Newcastle. Now he’s done this. I don’t care what his frustration his…"
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Mikel has consistently voiced his desire for Chelsea to sign a different striker, notably his compatriot Victor Osimhen, who has been linked with a move to West London for several years.
While Mikel is reportedly disappointed that a deal for Osimhen seems unlikely due to the player's high wage demands (reportedly around €12 million annually), his criticism of the current squad, particularly Jackson, remains steadfast.
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