Premier League to set up ‘Colegate’ panel

Martyn Ziegler

The inquiry into the 'Colegate' affair has finished taking evidence and the Premier League's lawyer Nick Fitzpatrick is set to recommend that there is a case for Chelsea to answer.

It is understood that as Chelsea, Ashley Cole and his agent Jonathan Barnett have all confirmed to inquiry leader Fitzpatrick that a meeting took place though disputing the details of that meeting he will recommend a disciplinary commission be set up.

Premier League chairman Dave Richards and chief executive Richard Scudamore will take the final decision, almost certainly before the Easter weekend and perhaps as soon as the end of this week, but Arsenal will be incensed if the matter is not taken further.

The next step will be to appoint a three-man panel to hear the case, where the Premier League would act as the prosecution and Chelsea as the defence.

A source in the Premier League said yesterday: "It would be beyond belief if an independent disciplinary commission were not appointed after all the evidence that has been heard."

Meanwhile, Chelsea's role in referee Anders Frisk's resignation will be scrutinised by UEFA's most senior figures at a meeting of UEFA's executive committee next month.

Frisk announced his retirement following death threats from Chelsea fans made after allegations about the Swedish referee by Jose Mourinho and the saga has sparked unprecedented fury among the UEFA top brass.

The issue is now set to be added to the agenda for the executive committee meeting in Tallinn, Estonia on April 19 and 20 and will include possible measures to protect referees.

UEFA treasurer Dr Mathieu Sprengers said: "We will certainly discuss it at the next meeting it is a very serious matter when referees are threatened to such an extent that they give up the job.

"Coaches must also understand that the sort of people who make these threats people who are no better than terrorists can be stimulated by their remarks about referees.

"We must examine all the circumstances to see what can be done."

Sprengers, who is also president of the Dutch FA, added that match officials are turning their back on football due to abuse from managers and players.

He said: "In Holland we have lost 40% of our referees over the last 10 years. Being a referee is now a very difficult profession."

Chelsea are refusing to apologise or back down over the Frisk affair, or to withdraw their allegation that Frisk met Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard in the referee's room during the Champions League first leg tie in the Nou Camp.

Both Frisk and Rijkaard deny such a meeting took place, and now the fourth official at the game Martin Ingvarsson has accused Mourinho of hounding the referee out of football.

Ingvarsson said: "What Chelsea are saying is a lie. No one came into our dressing room and I don't know why they are saying it. I saw what happened.

"There was no chat between Anders Frisk and Frank Rijkaard. They shook hands in the tunnel before the game not at half-time.

"They were together for a maximum of two seconds. There was no chat between them. I don't even know if they know each other that well.

"Maybe Anders has refereed at quite a few matches involving Mr Rijkaard. It is very sad that Anders has retired over this, he had done nothing wrong and had a good game."

Meanwhile UEFA referees chief Volker Roth has rejected Mourinho's demand to apologise for calling the Chelsea manager "an enemy of football".

He said: "I have heard Mourinho wants to sue me. I'm looking forward to that."

Chelsea can expect to be fined by UEFA's disciplinary commission next week for not attending the post-match press conference at the Nou Camp and for coming on to the pitch late after half-time.

UEFA may also take individual disciplinary action against Mourinho himself something they did with Sir Alex Ferguson two years ago when the Manchester United manager suggested the Champions League draw may have been fixed.