Chelsea fined, Mourinho banned in Frisk affair

Chelsea were fined 75,000 Swiss francs ($62,800) and coach Jose Mourinho handed a two-match touchline ban by UEFA yesterday over the Anders Frisk affair.

The London club, charged with bringing the game into disrepute, had alleged Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard visited the Swedish referee at half-time during the first leg of their Champions League first knockout round tie at the Nou Camp on February 23.

UEFA had accused Londoners Chelsea of making false declarations and "deliberately creating a poisoned and negative ambience" after they refused to attend the post-match news conference and submitted a report detailing their allegations.

"Mourinho will have to sit out the quarter-final tie against Bayern Munich, subject to an appeal," a UEFA statement said.

Mourinho was also fined 20,000 Swiss francs ($16,750).

Premier league leaders Chelsea, who beat Barcelona 5-4 on aggregate, play Bayern in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on April 6 with the return in Germany six days later.

Mourinho did not attend the hearing of UEFA's control and disciplinary committee at its headquarters in Nyon. Chelsea were represented by Plc chairman Bruce Buck, who said they were unlikely to appeal.

"I think the hearing was full and fair. We were able to make our points and we were pleased with the proceedings. We would like to put this incident behind us," Buck said.

"We are not overly happy but respect the decision made by the panel. We are not likely to appeal but would like to reserve the right to while waiting to hear the official reasoning from UEFA."

UEFA said Chelsea and Mourinho have three days to appeal but would not discuss the reasons behind its decision. Mourinho's assistant Steve Clarke and Chelsea security official Les Miles were reprimanded after also being charged with bringing the game into disrepute.

Death threats

Frisk received death threats from Chelsea fans following the Nou Camp leg and announced his immediate retirement from refereeing, leading to condemnation of Chelsea by UEFA.

UEFA's head of refereeing Volker Roth was quoted as describing Mourinho as an enemy of football and the Portuguese threatened to sue although UEFA later said Roth's words had been mistranslated.

Chelsea, who were leading 1-0 at half-time, lost the first leg 2-1 after Didier Drogba was sent off but went through to the quarter-finals with a thrilling 4-2 second-leg win at Stamford Bridge.