Chelsea react angrily to racism charge against groundsman

CHELSEA have reacted with fury to an FA racism charge levelled against groundsman Steve Bethell.

The FA action has been brought after a three-month inquiry into events which occurred after Chelsea’s controversial win over Manchester United at Stamford Bridge in April.

During the visitors’ warm-down after a Barclays Premier League defeat cemented by Michael Ballack’s contentious late penalty, Patrice Evra and Bethell clashed following a verbal exchange and had to be pulled apart.

There was an immediate accusation from the United camp that Evra had been the subject of racist abuse.

And while the FA have charged Evra and Bethell with improper conduct, they have also claimed the Chelsea man used ‘abusive language aggravated by reference to nationality/race’.

As a player, Evra – a France international who was born in Senegal – is facing the possibility of a fine or suspension for his part in the incident, the punishments available to Bethell are not so clear-cut.

However the Blues hit back in a statement last night.

It read: “We believe there is no foundation whatsoever to claims that the incident which occurred after the Manchester United match on April 26 involved comments based on nationality or race, which has led to an FA charge against one of our employees.

“Chelsea FC condemn all forms of discrimination in football and society.

“Such allegations against our club are extremely serious and Chelsea will not be making any further comment until we have assessed all the implications of the charge.”

As expected, Rio Ferdinand has escaped sanction, although he has been warned about his future conduct after accidentally striking a member of the Chelsea staff with a door he kicked in anger as he made his way off the field.

Ferdinand has since apologised and sent the female staff member a bunch of flowers.

There had been some suggestion earlier this week that the England defender was facing a four-match ban which could put his hopes of captaining the Three Lions under new coach Fabio Capello at risk.

However, those worries were instantly rejected by the FA, who insisted Ferdinand’s place in the squad to face the Czech Republic on August 20 – before which Capello will name his new skipper – was not under threat.

And with the fear of a charge also proving unfounded, Ferdinand will be available for United’s opening Premier League game against Newcastle on August 17.