Blues suffer treble off-field blow
While the latest misdemeanours involving Chelsea and Barcelona are to be examined at greater length, the Blues were fined £15,000 for their part in the brawl at Blackburn last month and Mourinho was fined £5,000 for his ‘cheat’ accusations following the first leg of the Carling Cup semi-final against Man United.
Barcelona’s Samuel Eto’o claimed he was called a ‘monkey’ by a Chelsea steward in the aftermath of the enthralling 4-2 win on Tuesday night when Barca manager Frank Rijkaard and Ronaldinho were also embroiled in scuffles near the tunnel area.
“We are looking into the matter,” said a UEFA spokesman. “We are gathering information and have received the referee’s and delegates’ report.”
Mourinho was warned about his future conduct by the FA disciplinary commission, for his comments after the goalless draw with United.
The Blues’ boss was charged with improper conduct for observations made in a Chelsea TV interview on January 12, venting his displeasure at the performance of referee Neale Barry and particularly annoyed that Alex Ferguson spoke to the official as the teams left the pitch at half-time.
“Sir Alex was very clever - if you can say that - at half-time, by putting some pressure on the ref,” Mourinho claimed.
“In the second half it was whistle and whistle, fault and fault, cheat and cheat.”
Chelsea and Blackburn paid a financial penalty and were warned about their future conduct for the ugly scenes which marred the end of their clash on February 2.
Claude Makelele sparked the trouble when he pushed Morten Gamst Pedersen and players from both sides confronted each other.
Chelsea denied a charge of failing to ensure their players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion and subsequently paid out £5,000 more than Blackburn, who admitted the charge.
What UEFA makes of the latest public ill-feeling between the Premiership leaders and Barca is yet to be seen.
It is understood that official Pierluigi Collina did not include reference to the alleged racial abuse, which Chelsea strenuously deny, in his report.
But there were plenty of other unsavoury incidents upon the conclusion of the contest.
Rijkaard was involved in a touchline confrontation with a Chelsea scout after the final whistle and as Mourinho ran to celebrate the 5-4 aggregate victory, Barcelona’s players, including Ronaldinho and Eto’o, were involved in angry altercations.
Some onlookers suggested Eto’o spat as he left the pitch.
And a bottle was reportedly thrown in the direction of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich as he walked in front of the visiting fans to celebrate in the Blues’ dressing-room.
UEFA are already set to examine claims that Rijkaard met referee Anders Frisk in his dressing-room in the first leg at the Nou Camp, with their disciplinary committee to sit on March 24, when they will also consider two charges against Chelsea - Mourinho’s failure to attend the post-match press conference in the Nou Camp and the Blues going out late for the second half.
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