Chelsea have appealed against captain Marcel Desailly's three-match ban for elbowing Monaco's Fernando Morientes during their Champions League semi-final last Tuesday.
The appeal will be heard by UEFA on Friday and the result known before Chelsea's home leg with Monaco on May 5th.
A club statement read: "Chelsea have lodged an appeal against Marcel Desailly's three-match European ban, handed out by UEFA for an elbow on Fernando Morientes in the Champions League semi-final first leg in Monaco.
"The appeal went in before the deadline of midnight on Monday and will be heard on Friday so the outcome will be known before Monaco's visit to Stamford Bridge."
Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri last week admitted losing Desailly would be a major blow to his plans of qualifying for the final. 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."
The 35-year-old France captain's ban was based on video evidence as referee Urs Meier did not see the incident, during the match which Monaco won 3-1.
Chelsea defender Robert Huth was yesterday told by the English Football Association he will not face disciplinary action after a video review of his clash with Alan Shearer at St James" Park last weekend.
Meanwhile, Chelsea have been told they must pay more than £10 million to prise highly-rated teenage defender Vincent Kompany from Anderlecht - even after allowing him to stay in Belgium for one more season.
Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon visited Brussels last month for talks about the 18-year-old defender, who became his country's second youngest international in February's friendly against France. But although reports have indicated Chelsea have paid a seven figure sum to secure first option on Kompany, the Belgian club insist no deal has yet been struck.
Assistant general manager Robert de Pot warned Chelsea that other clubs, said to include Manchester United as well as leading teams in Spain and Italy, are also interested in the promising centre-back. He is therefore waiting to hear from Chelsea whether they wish to continue their policy of signing the best young talents in Europe, having already captured Petr Cech and Arjen Robben for next season.
With Desailly nearing the end of his career, Chelsea need back-up for John Terry and William Gallas, even if Huth is another emerging young player.
Anderlecht are standing firm on their insistence Kompany, who signed an improved contract until 2006 last November, will not leave Belgium until the end of next season, a policy with which he is said to be in agreement.
Chelsea nevertheless have one advantage - even apart from their spending power - as Kompany's friend, goalkeeper Yves Makaba Makalamby, is already at Stamford Bridge.
De Pot said yesterday: "There is no agreement with them yet and we are waiting to hear back from them."
