- Title: ISRAEL: CHELSEA MANAGER MOURINHO BEGINS TWO DAY TRIP TO ISRAEL.
- Date: 27th March 2005
- Summary: RAMAT GAN, TEL AVIV, ISRAEL (MARCH 27, 2005)(REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. VARIOUS OF CHELSEA MANAGER JOSE MOURINHO BEING GREETED BY ISRAELI VICE PREMIER SHIMON PERES AT A PEACE FOOTBALL MATCH FOR ISRAELI AND PALESTINIAN CHILDREN 2. VARIOUS OF ISRAELI AND PALESTINIAN CHILDREN RECEIVING REWARDS 3. GENERAL VIEWS OF CEREMONY 4. (Soundbit
- Embargoed: 11th April 2005 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: RAMAT GAN ANDTEL AVIV, ISRAEL
- Country: Israel
- Reuters ID: LVADPVK0PA2MXT7W7RB6UVFTX84Z
- Story Text: Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho begins two day trip to
Israel amid UEFA row.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho began a two-day visit
to Israel on Sunday (March 27) amid the team's bitter row
with UEFA, who have effectively accused the London club of
lying over an incident at their Champions League match in
Barcelona.
Mourinho came to Israel as the guest of the Peres
Center for Peace to show his support for the peace soccer
schools, where more than 800 Israeli and Palestinian
children play together in a sign of coexistence.
Mourinho was scheduled to coach and lecture Palestinian
and Israeli children and adults during his two day visit,
hosted by Israeli Vice Premier Shimon Peres.
UEFA charged Chelsea with bringing the game into
disrepute on Monday, specifically citing Mourinho, his
assistant Steve Clarke and security man Les Miles.
The row erupted after Chelsea accused Barcelona manager
Frank Rijkaard of speaking to referee Anders Frisk in his
dressing room at halftime in their Champions League first
leg at the Nou Camp, implying he was trying to exert an
influence.
Club sources said on Tuesday the Premier League leaders
would stand by their manager and were also concerned that
they would not get a fair hearing when the case is put to
UEFA's disciplinary panel on March 31.
The European governing body issued a strong statement
accusing Chelsea of making false declarations and
"deliberately creating a poisoned and negative ambience".
The sources said the club were very surprised at the
strength of UEFA's language and that of their spokesman
William Gaillard who accused Chelsea of being dishonest.
Chelsea, who were leading 1-0 at the time of the
incident, went on to lose the leg 2-1 after striker Didier
Drogba was sent off. Mourinho sent his team went out late
for the second half and failed to attend the mandatory news
conference.
After Chelsea had sent a report on the incident to
UEFA, Monday Gaillard described sections of the report as
untrue. "The alleged meeting did not happen," Gaillard said.
The incident created wider shock waves when Frisk
resigned 10 days ago saying he had received death threats
from Chelsea fans.
The London club, who went on to win the second leg and
qualify for the quarter-finals, are also concerned that
Mourinho and his staff might not receive impartial
treatment from a disciplinary committee that is not
independent of UEFA. Officially Chelsea say they are evaluating
the
charges.
When they make a statement they want it to be "measured
and correct, not temperamental", the Chelsea sources said.
Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon is likely to
continue the diplomatic contacts he has been having with
UEFA for the last week. It was not clear whether Mourinho
would attend the hearing.
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