Chelsea defiant on Rijkaard claims

JOSE MOURINHO insisted managers should be barred from speaking to referees in private as Chelsea stuck to their guns over their complaints at Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard.

Chelsea claim to have evidence Rijkaard was seen leaving the room of referee Anders Frisk at half-time during Wednesday night's Champions League tie.

UEFA have already made it clear that their observers witnessed nothing untoward, with Rijkaard also having professed his innocence.

However, Chelsea are still compiling a report to send to UEFA, detailing their concerns at what they believe was inappropriate behaviour by the Barcelona boss.

Mourinho had already been ruffled by Alex Ferguson's alleged tunnel chat with Neale Barry during last month's Carling Cup semi-final clash.

And while he did not actually refer specifically to Rijkaard yesterday, it is clear the Chelsea boss is even more unhappy at allegations Rijkaard spoke to Frisk in private at the Nou Camp.

Mourinho said: "Talking in a public area with referees, with 20 people around, is one thing.

He added: "You can't say that you cannot communicate at all, and that there should be a wall between managers and referees.

"But talking with a referee in a private place is another thing."

Mourinho added: "If you are lucky and can find one of my assistants, try to speak to him about what happened. To be fair, I was as always the first to leave the pitch at half-time to run to the dressing-room to prepare my things. I saw nothing."

UEFA spokesman William Gaillard said: "Anders Frisk says Rijkaard greeted him and apologised he had not had the opportunity to say hello before the game.

"We had two UEFA officials there and neither witnessed it. The referee's dressing room was locked and he and his assistants were the only people allowed in."

UEFA's head of referees, Jermund Nilsson, added: "I am assured Anders Frisk did nothing wrong and, from what I understand, Chelsea have very definitely over reacted."