Chelsea vs. Bayern Munich: UEFA Right to Let Terry Lift Champions League Cup

Like him or loathe him, there's no denying that John Terry deserves to join Chelsea at the podium if they upend Bayern Munich in the 2012 UEFA Champions League Final on May 9th.

According to Sky Sports, UEFA will allow Terry to join his 'mates in hoisting the European Cup—and even take home a medal—if they win, despite his absence from the pitch:

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UEFA confirm suspended John Terry will be allowed to collect the #UCL trophy and medal if Chelsea beat Bayern Munich. Full story to follow.

— Sky Sports (@SkySports) April 26, 2012"

The Chelsea skipper was sent off on a straight red in the first half of Tuesday's semifinal match at the Camp Nou for putting a knee to the back of Barcelona's Alexis Sanchez. As a result, Terry will have to watch the Champions League final from among the legions of Bayern fans sure to fill the stands at the Allianz Arena in Munich.

Of course, he won't be alone in that regard. Terry will be joined by fellow Chelsea players Ramires, Raul Meireles and Branislav Ivanovic, all of whom were also banned for bookings against Barca. The same goes for Bayern's David Alaba, Luis Gustavo and Holger Badstuber.

It's certainly sensible that Terry would be allowed onto the pitch to celebrate with the Blues should they conclude their Cinderella run with a win over Bayern. Say what you want about his extramarital affairs and reputation for racial abuse, but Terry is an integral part of Chelsea's squad and has been for some time. Without his efforts against the likes Napoli's Edinson Cavani, Benfica's Oscar Cardozo and Barca's Lionel Messi, the Blues wouldn't be in position to claim their first Champions League trophy.

That being said, if Terry is allowed to celebrate such a victory, then so too should Ramires, Meireles and Ivanovic. Those three have been vital to Chelsea's efforts and don't carry with them nearly the same baggage that Terry does. Thus, if they're withheld from the festivities, then Terry should be as well. Terry may be more significant to Chelsea's success than any one of those other three, but he hardly deserves to benefit from such a particular double standard, should it exist.

Ultimately, though, any talk of Terry putting his soiled hands on silverware is a bit premature. Chelsea will have to play their way past a Bayern side playing on its home grounds in front of its own supporters before any discussion of who should or shouldn't celebrate can truly carry any weight.

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