UEFA has banned Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho from the club's two most important games of the season, the Champions League quarterfinals against Bayern Munich.
The European governing body accused Chelsea of bringing the game into "disrepute" and "making false declarations." The charges stem from Mourinho's allegations that referee Anders Frisk colluded with FC Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard at halftime of the Feb. 23 Champions League game at Camp Nou.
Frisk abruptly retired a few days later, citing death threats -- most from English fans.
PHOTO: AP
UEFA could have sanctioned Chelsea as strongly as it wished Thursday, including banning Chelsea from the competition or, at the other extreme, dismissing the charges.
UEFA also fined Mourinho SF20,000 (US$16,700; 12,900 euros) and handed the Chelsea club an added fine of SF75,000. Assistant coach Steve Clarke and security official Les Miles were given reprimands by UEFA.
Mourinho did not attend the hearing. Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck, who represented the club before UEFA's disciplinary panel, said an appeal was unlikely.
Chelsea had threatened to take the ruling to the Swiss-based Court of Arbitration for Sport if it were unsatisfied.
"The view of the club is that we would like to put the incident behind us," Buck said. "We are not likely to appeal, but we would like to reserve that decision until we see the reasoning of the panel."
Unless the club appeals, Mourinho will have to watch the Bayern game from the stands and will be barred from contact with the team once it enters the stadium. The first leg is Wednesday at Stamford Bridge in London, with the return April 12 in Munich.
``Chelsea have three days to launch any appeal from the moment they received written grounds of the decision. It will most likely be tomorrow,'' said Peter Limecher, head of UEFA's disciplinary committee.
Mourinho earns about ?5 million (US$9 million), and is employed by Chelsea's Russian-born billionaire owner Roman Abramovich.
Buck dismissed a suggestion it was a light punishment.
"We are running a business and every thousand pounds, or thousand Swiss francs that we spend, we spend carefully," he said. "I think in large part it's been blown out of proportion but it was a serious matter and we're hoping to put it behind us."
Asked about Mourinho's reaction, Buck replied: "In terms of reaction, I don't know what his reaction is."
The sanctions stem from a Feb. 23 Champions League game at Barcelona. Mourinho said he saw FC Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard enter the referee's dressing room to talk with referee Anders Frisk at halftime.
Mourinho claimed the meeting affected the outcome of the game and called the result "adulterated."
Barcelona won the game 2-1, scoring two goals after striker Didier Drogba was sent off in the second half. Chelsea won the return leg 4-2 to reach the quarterfinals.
A few days later, Frisk retired after officiating in 118 international games. One of the world's top referees, he said he'd received death threats and feared for his family's safety.
In the run-up to Thursday's hearing, UEFA officials essentially called Mourinho a liar. UEFA spokesman William Gaillard, who was openly critical of Mourinho, was absent from the hearing. UEFA officials said he had "an already planned" business engagement.
"By further disseminating these wrong and unfounded statements, Chelsea FC allowed its technical staff to deliberately create a poisoned and negative ambiance," UEFA said in charging Mourinho earlier this month.
The Premier League has been away for two weeks with international games taking over. As play resumes this weekend, only eight rounds remain with clubs battling for positions on three fronts.
Chelsea is an overwhelming favorite to win its first league title in 50 years. It has an 11-point lead over Manchester United ahead of today's match against Southampton.
United and Arsenal are chasing second place and the second automatic Champions League berth.
Fourth place is also being keenly sought, since it offers the final berth in Europe's top club competition. The relegation battle is also still wide open.
Manchester United and Arsenal are still hoping for a Chelsea slip-up.
"It is amazing people are writing us off when we are still in a dogfight," Manchester United goalkeeper Tim Howard said. "It is important to keep going. We are not going to relax until the final whistle is blown on the last game on the season. That is when we will take it easy. Until then it is all guns blazing."
Manchester United hosts improving Blackburn and Arsenal plays Norwich at Highbury today.
Of England's top players, Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand looks like the only one who suffered an injury in international play. The defender was taken off during England's 2-0 victory against Azerbaijan with a hamstring injury.
Chelsea needs only 14 points from its eight remaining matches to win its first league title since 1955. The Blues are also in the quarterfinals of the Champions League and have already won the English League Cup.
Chelsea has 77 points, followed by Manchester United with 66 and Arsenal with 64.
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