Kenyon: Ref row won't change Jose

Matt Hughes|Steve Stammers|Evening Standard

14 April 2012

Chief Executive Peter Kenyon has insisted Jose Mourinho would not change his ways despite the controversy surrounding Chelsea's relationship with UEFA and the retirement of Anders Frisk.

Kenyon met with UEFA chief executive Lars-Christer Olsson before today's Champions League quarterfinal draw in Nyon but was adamant Chelsea have no need to apologise for their actions over the past fortnight.

Olsson took the opportunity before the draw to remind all players and managers of their duty to protect the game's image but Kenyon believes Mourinho is well aware of his responsibilities.

Kenyon said: "Jose doesn't have to change anything and that will remain an internal matter.

"Jose has a completely rounded perspective and joined Chelsea to make them one of the biggest clubs in Europe. He understands what that means, not only in terms of winning trophies, but building Chelsea as a football club.

"We're well on our way to doing that and need to put the events of the last week into context. It's inevitable that we're going to get scrutinized and need to accept that."

Despite the furore over the past fortnight Kenyon believes his club have many admirers in Europe.

He said: "Chelsea have lots of friends in Europe. There's lots of talk that we don't have any friends but we're friends with all the clubs here today and generally have good relationships with the governing bodies. It's incorrect to say we don't have any friends as you go around London there's lots of people who compliment us about what we're doing on the field.

"We'd rather not have had the events of the past few weeks but it's the nature of the way the game is today. Chelsea are more high-profile than we were 12 months ago and it's something we've got to accept."

Having enjoyed positive talks with Olsson Chelsea's chief executive is confident the club's relationship is back on track, despite the fact that they face several charges and next week's meeting of UEFA's control and disciplinary body.

UEFA have lent their support to Chelsea's view that Mourinho had nothing to do with Frisk's retirement but Kenyon believes his trip was still worthwhile.

He added: "We've put our relationship with UEFA back into the right perspective. There was no need to apologise and our meeting was more about making the facts better known and taking some of the emotions out of the comments that have been made. We can all start talking about football."

Chelsea have been widely criticised in Europe following their acrimonious Champions League tie with Barcelona and the subsequent retirement of Frisk. Today, Swiss referee Urs Meier warned that a referee could get killed one day if abuse of officials does not stop.

Meier, who was swamped by hostile e-mails last summer after he disallowed a goal by England's Sol Campbell at Euro 2004, said: "Up until now there have been just death threats in top-class football - with Frisk, unlike me, against the whole family. But one day someone will get killed."

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger also expressed his concerns over the threats to Frisk. He said: "It is sinister and it is bad for the image of the game. It is terrible for football. I think managers have to take a step back when criticising referees."

Today, the League Managers' Association and the Premier League had a meeting where they agreed a clampdown on what they perceive as unfair criticism of referees.

In a joint statement they said: "New measures relating to this will be presented to the Premier League and LMA members for approval in due course."

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