Mourinho expects disrepute claims to be thrown out

UEFA official William Gaillard has assured Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho that everyone is innocent until proven guilty.

The director of communications for European football’s governing body was responding to claims by Mourinho that the disrepute charges against him as well as his assistant Steve Clarke and security official Les Miles will be dropped by UEFA body next week.

All three are accused of making “false, wrong and unfounded” allegations that Barcelona boss Frank Rijkaard spoke with referee Anders Frisk in his dressing room at half-time during the match in the Nou Camp last month.

UEFA say Chelsea’s claims created “a poisoned and negative ambience” in an attempt to influence the second leg, and Chelsea could face the ultimate sanction of disqualification from the Champions League when their case is heard on March 31.

But Gaillard said: “Everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty. It is his right to say what he thinks. The control and disciplinary body will look at all the evidence,” he said.

Gaillard’s remarks come after Mourinho said on Portuguese TV: “I expect complete dismissal.”

Mourinho insists he will have plenty to say about the club’s run-in with UEFA once the case is settled.

“I think a lot, but at this moment I can’t really talk about it,” he said.

“In the future I’ll talk more. Once the case has been closed and the lawyers have opened the door for me to speak, I will speak out a lot more, but now I have to wait for the process to finish.”

Chelsea’s case will be heard by UEFA’s control and disciplinary body on Thursday week in Nyon, Switzerland.

Meanwhile, Bayern general manager Uli Hoeness insists the German powerhouse want Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho in the managerial dug-out for both legs of their Champions League quarter-final showdown.

“We hope that Mourinho is in the dug-out for both of the games against Bayern,” Hoeness said.

“We want to meet Chelsea at their best and that means with their coach on the bench.

“It would be a real shame if he could not guide his team from the dug-out.”