UEFA ‘Chelsea unlikely to be thrown out’

By European Football
March 31 2005

UEFA stated that it would be highly unlikely for Chelsea to be thrown out of the Champions League by a disciplinary hearing today. Manager Jose Mourinho, his assistant Steve Clarke and security official Les Miles have all been charged with bringing the game into disrepute. They are charged with allegedly making "false, wrong and unfounded" claims that Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard spoke with referee Anders Frisk in the match official's dressing room at half-time in the Nou Camp last month.

Chelsea did not send any lawyers to the meeting in Nyon Switzerland, but sent a strongly worded rebuttal of UEFA's claims.

Scottish FA chief executive David Taylor who is on the panel judging Chelsea told the Press Association:

"It is a judicial process so quite properly nobody comments on the case before the events and there are all sorts of legal and other submissions to be made.”

"It is like the court of first instance in terms of UEFA. There is an appeal that could be taken to an appeals body but 80 to 90% of cases are dealt with at that stage."

Attempts to predict the outcome of the case are worse than useless as this situation has never arisen before but a senior UEFA figure told the press association:

"This is a serious case but I would not have thought it would result in such a sanction. That is the most severe punishment and this would be a first offence. “

"A fine and possible a touchline ban for the officials is more likely.”

"The fact that the referee has now announced his retirement after receiving the threats from fans has not helped matters for Chelsea but strictly speaking it should not affect the case against them."

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