FIFA president Sepp Blatter has given UEFA the green light to take disciplinary action against Michael Essien for the Chelsea midfielder's shocking foul on Liverpool's Dietmar Hamann.

Essien's knee-high challenge was missed by German referee Herbert Fandel but Blatter confirmed that under the rules of the game UEFA could use video evidence to bring charges against the Chelsea player.

Blatter told a news conference in Leipzig: 'In 1994 the FIFA executive committee took a decision that the disciplinary committee can use television evidence in the case of infractions against the laws of the game that have not been identified by the referee.

'As this happened in a Champions League game it is up to UEFA to decide whether to review video evidence.'

In October, Essien escaped any further disciplinary action following another dangerous tackle on Bolton defender Tal Ben Haim despite referee Rob Styles, after reviewing TV footage, wanting to upgrade the yellow card he awarded to red.

The Football Association consulted FIFA and were told that the decision could not be reversed.

Blatter appeared to contradict that today by saying 'if it was a blatant red card and only a yellow card was given the disciplinary body can transfer it', but FIFA communications director Markus Siegler later clarified the rules.

Siegler said: 'You cannot upgrade or downgrade one card to another but you can take action if the referee has not seen an incident.'

UEFA are waiting for reports from referee Frandel and match delegate Indrek Kannik of Spain before deciding whether to take action.