Chelsea to contest Terry red card

Chelsea confirmed on Monday they would appeal against the red card given to captain John Terry during their Premier League victory away to Manchester City last weekend.

A Football Association regulatory commission will consider Terry's case on Tuesday and a statement from the governing body said: “Chelsea have submitted a claim for wrongful dismissal on behalf of John Terry.

“Terry was sent off for serious foul play during Chelsea's game against Manchester City on September 13.

“A regulatory commission will consider the claim on September 16.”

England centre-back Terry was given a straight red card during Chelsea's 3-1 victory at Eastlands by referee Mark Halsey for a professional foul on City's Jo but television replays appeared to show there were other covering defenders between the Brazilian and the goal.

However, the FA is unable to downgrade cards from red to yellow, so Chelsea must demonstrate that Terry should not have been booked at all to get the decision overturned.

This seems unlikely given that his club and England colleague Frank Lampard said Terry deserved to have his name taken, if not be sent-off.

As things stand, Terry is set to serve a three-game ban which would rule him out of Sunday's match against English champions Manchester United, Chelsea's conquerors in the Champions League final, and the fixtures with Stoke City and Aston Villa.

Blues boss Luiz Felipe Scolari admitted he is desperate to have Terry available for the United clash.

“It is important for us, if possible, that Terry plays on Sunday but we will wait and see what the FA say,” Scolari said.

“It's important for us that, after seeing it on television, maybe it was a mistake by the referee.

“It is not my place to say it was a mistake. Maybe the FA agree it was a mistake and change the decision of the referee.”