Porto complain about Chelsea

Wanted: Jose Mourinho

Ken Dyer|Matt Hughes|Raoul Simons|Evening Standard

14 April 2012

Porto's president has protested to FIFA about the conduct of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich and chief executive Peter Kenyon in trying to arrange a meeting with the Portuguese club's coach Jose Mourinho.

And the bad news for Chelsea today did not stop there with claims of dressing room unrest at the tactics of Claudio Ranieri that led to their European Cup semi-final defeat in Monaco.

One senior player is said to have broken the changing room silence after the 3-1 defeat against the French champions challenging Ranieri with the words "what the f*** was all that about". Another international is reported to have said "Claudio made a complete cock-up" while even less complimentary text messages were said to have been sent between other players.

Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink said: "I don't think a single one of us slept on Tuesday night. We are all disgusted about what happened. We can't believe it. It is a massive missed opportunity and everybody is feeling sh*t. Roman Abramovich spoke to us after the game and what he said is private. But he felt the defeat just like us. I bet he feels as sh*t as we do."

Monaco had played most of the second half with 10 men following a sending off but seized a potentially crucial lead after three bizarre substitutions from Ranieri.

One of those involved Juan Veron, who, it is claimed this morning, told Ranieri he was not fit enough to play in such an important game following a long lay-off with a back injury.

But the manager brought him on anyway and the Argentine was completely ineffectual and looked unfit.

Meanwhile Kenyon has denied having any knowledge of Porto's complaint.

The president of the Portuguese club, Nuno Pinto Da Costa, claims he has made the protest following pictures of Kenyon and Abramovich at Vigo airport in Spain on their way back from a meeting with Mourinho's agent, Isuo Jorge Mendes, in Setubal, Portugal, on Monday.

Mourinho did not attend the meeting but Abramovich is personally cited in the complaint as the president of Chelsea. He is accused of attempting to induce Mourinho to breach his contract with Porto.

Kenyon said: "Have they made a complaint? I'm not aware of that and why would they complain to FIFA? I know there are pictures of us. We were in Spain. We do a lot of travelling."

Following their European Cup semi-final goalless draw against Deportivo last night in Portugal, Mourinho said about Chelsea's alleged courting: "Are Chelsea interested in me? You know more than me. All I can say is that I have had no contact from Chelsea. I do not know anything about Chelsea."

In what proved to be a highly controversial game in Monte Carlo for Chelsea, Marcel Desailly will find out his fate tomorrow for an elbow on Fernando Morientes which is now being probed by UEFA. He could face a three match ban. But referee Urs Meier today insisted Makelele's theatrics deserved nothing more than a yellow card.

The Chelsea midfielder has been widely criticised for his delayed reaction to being cuffed by Andreas Zikos.

The incident resulted in a red card for the Monaco player yet only a booking for Makelele.

But Meier is unrepentent and has even blocked any possibility of the Frenchman being hit with a separate UEFA disciplinary charge.

The Swiss referee included a detailed account of the clash in his official match report in which he states categorically that Makelele was booked for "unsporting behaviour".

UEFA rules stipulate that when a referee takes action against an offender during the game, video evidence of the incident can only be reviewed if the official admits to making a mistake.

As Makelele was booked at the time and Meier believes this was sufficient punishment, the 31-year-old is in the clear.

The French international World Cup winner will be suspended for the return against Monaco in any case as the booking was his third of the competition.

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