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Mourinho handed a two-match ban

By Mark Ledsom
March 31, 2005 20:55 IST

Chelsea were fined 75,000 Swiss francs ($62,800) and coach Jose Mourinho handed a two-match touchline ban by UEFA on Thursday over the Anders Frisk affair.

The London club, charged with bringing the game into disrepute, had alleged Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard visited the Swedish referee at halftime during the first leg of their Champions League first knockout round tie at the Nou Camp on February 23.

UEFA had accused Chelsea of making false declarations and "deliberately creating a poisoned and negative ambience" after they refused to attend the post-match news conference and submitted a report detailing their allegations.

"Mourinho... will have to sit out the quarter-final tie against Bayern Munich, subject to an appeal," a UEFA statement said.

Mourinho was also fined 20,000 Swiss francs ($16,750).

Premier league leaders Chelsea, who beat Barca 5-4 on aggregate, play Bayern in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on April 6 with the return in Germany six days later.

Mourinho did not attend the hearing of UEFA's control and disciplinary committee at its headquarters in Nyon. Chelsea were represented by Plc chairman Bruce Buck, who said they were unlikely to appeal.

"I think the hearing was full and fair. We were able to make our points and we were pleased with the proceedings. We would like to put this incident behind us," Buck told reporters.

"We are not overly happy but respect the decision made by the panel. We are not likely to appeal but would like to reserve the right to while waiting to hear the official reasoning from UEFA."

UEFA said Chelsea and Mourinho have three days to appeal but would

not discuss the reasons behind its decision.

Mourinho's assistant Steve Clarke and Chelsea security official Les Miles were reprimanded after also being charged with bringing the game into disrepute.

DEATH THREATS

Frisk received death threats from Chelsea fans following the Nou Camp leg and announced his immediate retirement from refereeing, leading to condemnation of Chelsea by UEFA.

UEFA's head of refereeing Volker Roth was quoted as describing Mourinho as an enemy of football and the Portuguese threatened to sue although UEFA later said Roth's words had been mistranslated.

Chelsea, who were leading 1-0 at halftime, lost the first leg 2-1 after striker Didier Drogba was sent off but went through to the quarter-finals with a thrilling 4-2 win in the second leg at Stamford Bridge.

When charged, Chelsea responded by issuing a statement attacking "individuals within UEFA" for their public pronouncements on the case and said that if the result of Thursday's hearing went against them "in a big way" they would take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Earlier this week Mourinho indicated he did not personally witness Rijkaard enter the referee's dressing room but took the word of his staff.

Rijkaard has said he feels Mourinho rather than the club should be punished.

"What he said was a pack of lies, very serious lies, and it is not the first time," said the former Dutch international.

Last week Chelsea and Mourinho were charged by the Premier League over an illegal approach to Arsenal's England defender Ashley Cole. Earlier this month Mourinho was fined by the English FA over comments made after a League Cup match against Manchester United.

Mark Ledsom
Source: REUTERS
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