Cesc Fabregas: Chelsea player's ban cut from three games to one

Fabregas will now be available to play from the start of next season

Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas will only miss one match after the Football Association reduced his ban following his red card against West Brom.

The Spaniard was sent off for violent conduct after kicking the ball at Chris Brunt's head from 20 yards away in the Premier League champions' 3-0 loss.

The offence normally carries a three-match ban but Chelsea successfully argued that would be "excessive".

Fabregas, 28, will now only miss Sunday's home game with Sunderland.

With his side 1-0 down at The Hawthorns, Fabregas hit Brunt on the head with the ball as Mike Jones tried to restore order following a tussle between Diego Costa and Gareth McAuley.

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho described the sending off as "bizarre" and "harsh".

A statement from the Football Association read: "A claim by Chelsea that the three-match suspension for Cesc Fabregas is excessive has been upheld by an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing."

Mourinho partly blamed Monday's defeat on the weakness of their Premier League rivals, who "let us win the title so early".