Blow for Blues as Desailly gets three match ban

CHELSEA defender Marcel Desailly will sit out the rest of the Blues' Champions League campaign after being handed a three-match ban by UEFA.

Desailly was punished for elbowing Fernando Morientes in the first leg of their semi-final at Monaco. However, Claude Makelele will be free to play in the final should Chelsea get there after escaping punishment for the over-reaction which got Andreas Zikos sent off in the same match. The midfielder's booking in Monaco keeps him out of the return leg at Stamford Bridge.

European football's governing body confirmed Zikos will miss the second leg as well for his red card. Zikos tapped Makelele on the back of the head, with the Chelsea player walking forward a few steps, looking at the referee and then theatrically tumbling to the ground, holding his head.

UEFA said its control and disciplinary body "noted the unsporting behaviour and provocative attitude" of Makelele, who "dived and feigned injury after the incident".

Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri admitted the loss of Desailly would be a major blow to his plans of overturning Monaco's two-goal advantage.

He said: "We'll miss him a lot as his experience is very important for us. I hope my other defenders are in good condition."

Rival boss Arsene Wenger said the controversy over Desailly's elbow and Makelele's play-acting in Monaco has made it imperative that video evidence is introduced to help referees.

The Arsenal boss observed: "You don't want players to dive and Makelele was wrong. Unfortunately, in some countries, it has become a way of playing well. Desailly has been a very fair player overall in his career but that sort of thing is an impulsive reaction.

"The referee must have the freedom to admit he didn't see it well and ask for video evidence to be used."

Meanwhile, Ranieri's alienation by the Stamford Bridge hierarchy was emphasised yesterday when the besieged Chelsea boss revealed he had been kept in the dark over Frank Lampard's contract negotiations. Ranieri, who rates the midfielder as one of his two star players this season, was unaware discussions over Lampard's deal, which expires in 2006, had collapsed.

Ranieri said: "I don't know anything about Frank Lampard. But, if I'm a dead man walking, how would I know?"

Porto coach Jose Mourinho is now the 5/4 bookmakers' favourite to replace Ranieri in the summer.

Despite the media frenzy which followed Chelsea's capitulation in Monte Carlo due to a combination of questionable tactics by Ranieri and half-hearted performance by his players Ranieri has vowed to carry on his tinkering.

Several changes will be forced on him for the clash at Newcastle tomorrow as Ranieri has acknowledged Veron is not fit enough. Scott Parker (hamstring), Adrian Mutu (knee), Damien Duff and William Gallas (both ill) are all out of the trip to the north-east. Ranieri said: "If I didn't tinker, what would everyone have to write about."