UEFA move to end 'blame game'
European soccer chiefs have vowed to stamp out the increasing trend of in-fighting and restore a sense of fair play to the game.
UEFA are still reeling from the sudden retirement of top referee Anders Frisk in the wake of death threats he received following his handling of Chelsea’s Champions League defeat to Barcelona last month.
While he is anxious not to pin the blame for Frisk’s decision to quit on Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho, who accused Barca boss Frank Rijkaard of entering the referee’s dressing at half-time in the Nou Camp, UEFA chief executive Lars Christer-Olsen, accepts the comments did not help.
And he is determined, not just to eradicate the blame game that managers engage in with their communication with referees but also the spectacular pre-match rows between rival bosses – epitomised by those involving Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger – that Olsen believes are letting the sport down.
“There has been a general trend of criticism, not just between officials and representatives from clubs, but also from club managers,” Olsen told BBC Radio Five Live’s Sportsweek programme.
“It seems some people are trying to move the competition from the pitch to the fencing before matches. I don’t appreciate that at all.
“I am not aiming these comments at any individual but Jose Mourinho’s remark in Barcelona was not very clever.
“We all have a responsibility to calm this down, come back to normal and treat each other in a fair way. People have to remember they are role models and fair play is part of the game.”
Olsen revealed he has still not abandoned hope that Frisk will reverse his decision and eventually return to the refereeing fold.
Sir Alex Ferguson admitted yesterday he had written to the referee to express his regret at his sudden departure, which Olsen insists is keenly felt within UEFA circles.
“It wasn’t an instant decision,” he said.
“Anders was feeling uncomfortable about this for three or four weeks.
“We have to give him some time so he can reflect on it and while it is difficult to say whether he will change his mind, if he did we would welcome him back with open arms.
“It is a loss for European football that he is leaving like this.”
Olsen held a meeting with Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon in Nyon prior to Friday’s Champions League quarter-final draw.
And while he insisted there we no lingering problems between Chelsea and the governing body, he revealed Kenyon has warned Mourinho to watch his words in future.
“I have an excellent relationship with Peter Kenyon based on previous meetings,” said Olsen.
“We share the same values so I didn’t have to make any suggestions.”
