Soccer: Injury is the reason given for Desailly absence

Chelsea captain Marcel Desailly has insisted an achilles injury - and not concerns over the current unrest in the Middle East - caused him to pull out of his side’s UEFA Cup tie with Tel Aviv tomorrow.

Over a month after the terrorist attacks on the United States, the trip to Israel for their second round, first leg of the European competition has created controversy in the club with a few players making clear they did not want to risk their lives.