Andres Iniesta escapes Champions League ban

Iniesta faced missing the first-leg of the semi final (GETTY IMAGES)

Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta is free to play in the Champions League semi-final first leg against Real Madrid after escaping punishment from UEFA for allegedly getting deliberately booked.

Iniesta was cautioned in the first leg of Barca's quarter-final against Shakhtar Donetsk and that meant he was suspended for the return meeting in Ukraine.

A further ban would have seen the Spain star miss the Bernabeu encounter between the teams next Wednesday.

However, Barca revealed on www.fcbarcelona.cat this afternoon: "UEFA has announced that it will not be suspending the midfielder.

"FC Barcelona appealed to the governing body of European football against the proposal to ban the player for an additional match as a result of the yellow card shown in the quarter-final of the Champions League against Shakhtar on April 6.

"Iniesta will therefore be able to play in the Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.

UEFA have also announced that he will not face any financial penalty."