By Nick Raynor
March 24 2005

Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon has accused UEFA of launching a ‘unprecedented attack’ at the London-based club.

Manager Jose Mourinho, Assistant manager Steve Clarke and security official Les Miles were all charged earlier this week with bringing the game into disrepute.

 

Chelsea had claimed that Barcelona’s manager Frank Rijkaard went into the referee Anders Frisk’s dressing room at half-time in the Barcelona v Chelsea Champions League match.

 

Chelsea proceeded to have Drogba sent off and lose the first leg and after receiving death threats from Chelsea fans, Frisk retired.

 

Kenyon said:

"Chelsea fully adheres to, and respects, the processes of UEFA and is under no illusion about the seriousness of these charges. We will defend these in the correct and proper manner and within the guidelines laid down by UEFA.

"However the statements against Chelsea, Jose Mourinho, Steve Clarke and Les Miles by at least one senior UEFA official means we are no longer able to keep our own counsel, which we have consistently done since submitting our report to UEFA following the Barcelona-Chelsea first leg match.

"These various statements have called into question publicly the integrity of our manager, assistant coach, security officer and the club as a whole and we cannot allow these to stand unchallenged.

"Chelsea utterly refutes that the club, or any of its representatives, participated in a deliberate ploy of false declarations or lies in order to cynically influence the result of the tie, to put pressure on refereeing officials or poison the atmosphere between the teams. All statements in our report submitted to UEFA were made in good faith and are honestly held.

"Unfortunately some within UEFA have decided to ignore their own organisation's reputation for fairness and correct procedure by playing out this debate in the public arena ahead of any hearing. This hearing would have been, and still is, the right and proper forum for such debate.

"These individuals have used deliberately inflammatory language which Chelsea finds unjust and unhelpful. The use of such language, and the nature of the public statements as a whole, give us grave concern about our chances of receiving an impartial and fair hearing.

"Our defence has been dismissed before it has even been considered. Our witnesses have been branded as liars without any opportunity to be heard or defend themselves. That offends all principles of justice both in England and across Europe."

"If the factual disputes of this case have been decided in advance, we will have no choice but to pursue alternative avenues of legal redress, including an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which does not allow individual officials to prejudice the outcome of judicial proceedings.

"UEFA and Chelsea have always enjoyed good relations. Last week we both condemned the threats made to Anders Frisk and agreed on a way of moving forward for the good of football and Chelsea will continue to do that.

"Chelsea will have no further comment to make until after the case has been resolved."