The Last Samuri will complete his preparations for the Crabbie’s Grand National in Saturday’s BetBright Grimthorpe Chase Handicap Chase at Doncaster.

Midnight Haze will take his chance in the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree on April 14 rather than the Irish equivalent.

THE head of Norway’s refereeing union, Rune Pedersen, is confident Tom Henning Ovrebo, the referee blamed for Chelsea’s Champions League exit, will ride out the storm of criticism and not cave in to demands that he quit his job.

ARSENAL have become the first British side to win the UEFA Women’s Cup after a goalless draw in their second leg with Umea.

POLICE AGGRESSION made a tense situation “catch fire” at the Olympic Stadium in Rome, according to former referee Anders Frisk.

FORMER referee Anders Frisk had the room rocking with a memorable anecdote at the launch of the FAI’s Referee Development Plan in Dublin yesterday.

Thierry Henry is in the clear despite his withering verbal attack on Norwegian referee Terje Hauge after Arsenal’s defeat in the Champions League final.

MARKUS MERK has been appointed as referee for tomorrow night’s highly-charged Champions League fixture between Barcelona and Chelsea in the Nou Camp.

Markus Merk has been appointed as referee for Tuesday’s highly-charged Champions League fixture between Barcelona and Chelsea in the Nou Camp.

Norwegian referee Terje Hauge will take charge of Chelsea’s Champions League home leg against Barcelona on Wednesday.

CHELSEA manager Jose Mourinho insists he will not be silenced as he waits for the Football Association to determine if he will be punished for calling Wigan’s Lee McCulloch a “cheat.”

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho insists he will not be silenced as he waits for the Football Association to determine if he will be punished for calling Wigan’s Lee McCulloch a “cheat”.

WHEN Vince Lombardi was strutting his stuff as the most successful coach in American football history he gave the sports world some of its pithiest phrases.

Referee Anders Frisk was given FIFA’s presidential award tonight as recognition for a career cut short following death threats against his family from Chelsea extremists.

Returning to Chelsea has put the smile back on the face of England midfielder Frank Lampard, according to Jose Mourinho.

JOSE MOURINHO’S truce with UEFA will not stop him speaking out against Europe’s governing body if he feels there is any injustice shown to his side during the new Champions League campaign.

Jose Mourinho’s truce with UEFA will not stop him speaking out against Europe’s governing body if he feels there is any injustice being shown to his side during the new Champions League campaign.

UEFA will this week take the first steps towards toughening up the penalties for national sides, clubs and players who misbehave and are set to move towards a system where points deductions and match forfeits will become regular punishments.

Jose Mourinho’s troubled relationship with football authorities continued today when his appeal against a fine for improper conduct was dismissed.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has been criticised by UEFA for claiming the linesman “scored” Liverpool’s winner in their Champions League semi-final.

UEFA chief executive Lars-Christer Olsson has warned clubs they will be held responsible if coaches make deliberately provocative comments following Chelsea’s involvement in the retirement of referee Anders Frisk.

Arsene Wenger has called on Roman Abramovich to provide “moral leadership” at Chelsea after Jose Mourinho’s controversy-filled season at Stamford Bridge.

JOSE MOURINHO bore the brunt of UEFA's wrath yesterday and landed a two-match ban for his claims about referee Anders Frisk, but Chelsea have escaped more severe sanctions and are "unlikely" to appeal against their punishment.

Chelsea plc chairman Bruce Buck made a surprise appearance at UEFA’s disciplinary hearing in Switzerland today – a sign that the club is bending over backwards to avoid harsh sanctions from European football’s ruling body.

Chelsea are hoping a partial retraction of their claims about Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard meeting referee Anders Frisk will save them from from Champions League expulsion today.

CHELSEA will robustly deny disrepute charges brought by UEFA against the club and officials at a disciplinary hearing today - but even if found guilty they will almost certainly escape the severest possible punishment of expulsion from the Champions League.

CHELSEA put the finishing touches to their defence yesterday as they prepared for tomorrow’s disciplinary hearing at UEFA’s headquarters in Switzerland.

CHELSEA manager Jose Mourinho has suggested that he had not personally witnessed his Barcelona counterpart Frank Rijkaard enter the referee’s dressing room during the controversial Champions League match at the Nou Camp.

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho today revealed his determination to stand by his staff over the Anders Frisk row, vowing: “I don’t run away from a fight”.

Barcelona striker Samuel Eto’o has again criticised Chelsea over the way they behaved during the Champions League clash at the Nou Camp, but insists he is now concentrating on guiding his side to domestic glory this season.

Chelsea remain confident of winning £8m (€11.5m) in compensation from Juventus after sacked striker Adrian Mutu appeared before yesterday’s FA Premier League hearing in London.

CHELSEA chief executive Peter Kenyon yesterday vehemently rejected claims Chelsea had lied to UEFA over allegations Frank Rijkaard had a dressing room meeting with Anders Frisk.

Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon today rejected claims Chelsea had lied to UEFA over allegations Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard had a dressing room meeting with Swedish referee Anders Frisk.

THE Premier League last night started the process of appointing an independent disciplinary commission into Chelsea’s alleged ‘tapping up’ of Ashley Cole.

Chelsea are likely to be fined tomorrow by UEFA’s Control and Disciplinary Body for two misdemeanours during and after their Champions League clash with Barcelona at the Nou Camp.

Jose Mourinho has predicted that the charges levelled against Chelsea by UEFA will be dropped next week.

Chelsea are still considering their response after being accused by UEFA of telling deliberate lies about Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard and referee Anders Frisk.

CHELSEA could face the ultimate sanction of disqualification from the Champions League after being accused by UEFA of telling deliberate lies about Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard and referee Anders Frisk.

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has urged referee Anders Frisk to reconsider his decision to quit football.

European soccer chiefs have vowed to stamp out the increasing trend of in-fighting and restore a sense of fair play to the game.

CHELSEA chief executive Peter Kenyon emerged from peace talks with one of UEFA’s top officials yesterday insisting the club had many friends around Europe.