Terry's Euro ban slashed with Chelsea captain cleared for Champions League return

Chelsea captain John Terry will be able to play from the start of the Blues' Champions League campaign after having his three-match ban reduced on appeal by UEFA.

The England defender was sent off in last season's semi-final second leg against Barcelona in the Nou Camp for an off-the-ball clash with Alexis Sanchez.

Boost: John Terry's European ban has been reduced by one match to clear him for the Champions League group stages

The offence saw Terry handed an automatic three-match suspension for violent conduct - the first game of which was the final against Bayern Munich, where the Blues won the Europe's top prize for the first time after a dramatic penalty shoot-out.
However, UEFA have partially upheld Terry's subsequent appeal, which means he will now also miss the Super Cup clash with Europa League winners Atletico Madrid on August 31, but with the remaining sanction suspended for three years.
A statement from UEFA read: 'The UEFA Appeals Body has partially upheld John Terry's appeal against the three-match European ban imposed on the Chelsea FC defender at the end of last season.

Seeing red: Terry was sent off at the Nou Camp last April by Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir after his foul on Alexis Sanchez (below)

 

'Although the central defender is still suspended for three UEFA club competition matches, the third game of the ban has now been deferred for a probationary period of three years.

'The UEFA Appeals Body decided to partially uphold Terry's appeal against the three-match suspension handed down to him by the UEFA Control and Disciplinary Body on 31 May.

Back in action: Terry captained Chelsea during Sunday's 3-2 Community Shield defeat to Manchester City

'The England player served the first game of his European ban when he did not participate in the UEFA Champions League final against FC Bayern Munich on 19 May. He will also sit out Chelsea's UEFA Super Cup match against Club Atlitico de Madrid on 31 August.
'The original punishment related to Terry's sending-off in the UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg at FC Barcelona on 24 April.'
As winners, Chelsea qualified directly for the group stages of the Champions League, taking the place of Tottenham, who had finished above the Blues in fourth place in the Barclays Premier League.