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.