UEFA steer clear of Roth remarks
UEFA have distanced themselves from comments saying Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is an “enemy of football”.
The slur was made by UEFA referees chief Volker Roth after Mourinho’s alleged role in the retirement of top official Anders Frisk.
Mourinho has apparently threatened legal action to which Roth said: “I have heard Mourinho wants to sue me. I’m looking forward to that.”
European football’s governing body, though, have moved to clarify Roth’s initial comment was a personal remark and not UEFA's view.
William Gaillard, UEFA’s director of communications, told the London Evening Standard: “Roth has our full support and respect but he’s not an employee of UEFA. He was reacting as a private person, as a referee. UEFA have never said Jose Mourinho is an enemy of football.
“We are looking into the problem of respect for referees as a whole. There is nothing in our statement about Chelsea or Mourinho. We hope that the polemics end and we are keeping communications open with Chelsea.”
UEFA have also announced they will discuss Chelsea’s role in Frisk’s retirement at a meeting of their executive committee next month.
Frisk announced his retirement following death threats from Chelsea fans - made after allegations about the Swedish referee by 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 as an emergency item and will include possible measures to protect referees.
UEFA treasurer Dr Mathieu Sprengers told the Press Association: “We will certainly discuss it at the next executive committee 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 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.”
