Blues win Terry appeal

Chelsea captain available for United clash

Last updated: 16th September 2008

john terry chelsea

Terry: Successful appeal

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John Terry will be available for Chelsea's clash with Manchester United after his three-match suspension was overturned.

Terry was shown a straight red card towards the end of Chelsea's 3-1 victory over Manchester City on Saturday.

The Blues skipper pulled down Jo with referee Mark Halsey ruling that Terry was guilty of 'serious foul play'.

Luiz Felipe Scolari was initially unsure whether to appeal the decision but after looking again at the incident Chelsea felt that he had been wrongfully dismissed.

An FA regulatory commission has agreed with Chelsea and Terry will not now face a ban.

If the appeal had failed, Terry would have had to sit out the crucial game against defending Premier League champions United on Sunday, as well as the Carling Cup match with Portsmouth next week and the trip to Stoke on 27th September.

Mistake

Scolari is delighted the contentious decision has been overturned and believes common sense has prevailed.

"I am satisfied because it is the first time I am a coach when they changed the decision of the referee," said the Brazilian boss.

"I think only in England this would happen. In other countries the referee is the God.

"This time the referee said he made a mistake. For me it is a surprise, a positive surprise. The Football Association understand that the referee makes mistakes sometimes like you and me."