Blatter sickened by attacks on refs

FIFA president Sepp Blatter insists managers are damaging football by criticising referees.

With Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho coming under fire over his alleged part in the retirement of top official Anders Frisk, Blatter has voiced his concerns at how comments incite ‘trouble’ from fans.

“These verbal attacks on referees make me sick. We should remember the one who is attacking referees is also attacking the football environment he is living in,” said the president of the sport’s governing body.

“It is often such extreme behaviour that sparks off trouble among supporters. I strongly urge everyone concerned to show respect towards referees and demonstrate fair play.”

Swedish official Frisk has quit the game after a series of threats were made against him and his family following the Blues’ Champions League clash with Barcelona at the Nou Camp.

Mourinho was critical of Frisk’s performance during the first leg in Spain and accused the referee of speaking with home boss Frank Rijkaard during the half-time break.

Fourth official Martin Ingvarsson yesterday branded the Chelsea boss a “liar” and accused Mourinho of hounding Frisk out of football.

Ingvarsson declared: “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.”

Chelsea lost the match 2-1 and had Didier Drogba controversially sent off in the second half.

Mourinho refused to appear at the post-match press conference and his players were late out after the interval – sparking UEFA to issue a double disciplinary case against them.

Ingvarsson added: “It is terrible for him (Frisk) and for his family that he has been forced to make this decision over something that did not take place.

“There was a UEFA official with us. He saw everything and afterwards told us that Chelsea were unhappy about Anders and Rijkaard. I told him what we saw and he put it in his report. On the flight home, we did not think there would be any big controversy about it.”

Mourinho felt the full force of UEFA’s refereeing chief Volker Roth this week.

The German labelled Mourinho an “enemy of football” and the Chelsea chief responded by demanding an apology and threatened to sue if it wasn’t forthcoming.

But last night Roth was unconcerned by the threat as he defiantly declared: “I have heard that Mourinho is threatening to sue and I am looking forward to seeing what his complaint is.”