Premier League - Chelsea slam FA racism charge

Eurosport - Fri, 18 Jul 20:57:00 2008

Chelsea have reacted with fury to an FA racism charge levelled against groundsman Steve Bethell.

FOOTBALL 2005-2006 Premiership Chelsea Stamford Bridge - 0

The FA action has been brought after a three-month inquiry into events which occurred after Chelsea's controversial win over Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on April 26.

During the visitors' warm-down after a Premier League defeat cemented by Michael Ballack's contentious late penalty, Evra and Bethell clashed following a verbal exchange and had to be pulled apart.

There was an immediate accusation from the United camp that Evra has been the subject of racist abuse.

And while the FA have charged Evra and Bethell with improper conduct, they have also claimed the Chelsea man used "abusive language aggravated by reference to nationality/race."

As a player, Evra - a France international who was born in Senegal - is facing the possibility of a fine or suspension for his part in the incident, but the punishments available to Bethell are not so clear-cut.

However the Blues hit back in a statement on Friday night.

It read: "We believe there is no foundation whatsoever to claims that the incident which occurred after the Manchester United match on April 26 involved comments based on nationality or race, which has led to an FA charge against one of our employees.

"Chelsea FC condemn all forms of discrimination in football and society.

"Such allegations against our club are extremely serious and Chelsea will not be making any further comment until we have assessed all the implications of the charge."

Soho Square officials have conducted an exhaustive inquiry using various forms of evidence - and appear sure of their ground ahead of what is sure to be an explosive hearing at a date which is yet to be agreed.

An FA statement read: "The charges are the result of a thorough investigation conducted by the FA over the last three months.

"In bringing the charges, the FA used video evidence, CCTV footage and various witness statements from individuals present."

With senior officials from both clubs accompanying their teams on pre-season tours to the Far East in Chelsea's case and South Africa for Manchester United, it may take some time for the FA to confirm a hearing date - even though Evra and Bethell remain in the UK.

As expected, Rio Ferdinand has escaped sanction, although he has been warned about his future conduct after accidentally striking a member of the Chelsea staff with a door he kicked in anger as he made his way off the field.

Ferdinand has since apologised and sent the female staff member a bunch of flowers.

There had been some suggestion earlier this week that the England defender was facing a four-match ban which could put his hopes of captaining the Three Lions under new coach Fabio Capello at risk.

However, those worries were instantly rejected by the FA, who insisted Ferdinand's place in the squad to face the Czech Republic on August 20 - before which Capello will name his new skipper - was not under threat.

And with the fear of a charge also proving unfounded, Ferdinand will be available for United's opening Premier League game against Newcastle on August 17.

Sporting Life / Eurosport

Comment 9 - 28 of 28

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  1. It is another way of Chelsea getting any advantage they could over rivals.What the hack are the grounds man doing with a lawn mower JUST AFTER a game. Shouldn't it be before that they should cut the grass not after. I could guess those Chelsea staff who arrogantly told Utd players to leave just after they had won via a penalty.Racist or nationality is a sensitive issue and if those words are true, I am afraid the person responsible should be dismissed. If Chelsea continue to defend their staff who made these remarks, that would undermine their standing on Nationality and Racist issue.

    From I'm not telling you, on Sat 19 Jul 12:23PM

  2. How about Chelsea stop embarrassing themselves and take the charges.Patrice Evra has been charged for an incident on the same day and he didn't start complaining about it.Chelsea think that they can do anything they want and that includes being a bunch of racists which is against the law.There is no place for racism in football.After all at the end of the day it is a game so Chelsea should take these charges and apologise to Manchester United just like Manchester United and Patrice Evra in particular should apologise to Chelsea.

    From Justin, on Sat 19 Jul 10:25AM

  3. The usual Chelski scumbag behaviour....money cant buy you class...

    From Jamie S, on Sat 19 Jul 10:21AM

  4. Surely comment 24 must be sarcasm, 1964 cannot refer to your age, for, if it does you seem to have forgotten the Chelsea of old. A club that revelled not in success in Europe but in its reputation for violence. Like your patriach, money cannot buy you respectability.

    From timjwabbott, on Sat 19 Jul 9:14AM

  5. Chelsea fans have allways been peace loving,law abiding citizens with a great respect for a multi cultural society as i'm sure all members of Chelsea fc staff are.We have numerous black players of outstanding quality without whom Chelsea would not be one of the top european teams of the past decade. As such i hope the FA have got all their facts correct before making public these serious accusations.

    From Bromley Blue, on Sat 19 Jul 8:21AM

  6. for me, chelsea like a baby child who always crying.. it's all happen because of mourinho teach the club to be like that. cheers for man u, proud of england n europe! Glory Glory Man Unite!!

    From HaRuN, on Sat 19 Jul 8:08AM

  7. Shame on Manu

    From mervin.anthony, on Sat 19 Jul 7:32AM

  8. man utd cheats get away with it again a smaller club would of had points deducted

    From james m, on Sat 19 Jul 6:58AM

  9. Racism has no place in any spot under the sun.Wait for the F.A. to fully charge the parties involved before we judge who is right or wrong. Happy sporting.

    From gurdeep s, on Sat 19 Jul 6:20AM

  10. he kicked a door in frustration he did not actually kick the woman , also he said sorry to her as soon has he knew his error , the ground staff at chelsea should know better teams warm down and they should have waited for them to do that , but the ground staff as like chelsea have no respect for anything but chelsea , all clubs have a warm down and this is the first time its ever happened before so chelsea should be ashamed of themselves , pompey fan always ,

    From Chris A, on Sat 19 Jul 5:46AM

  11. Beneto what ferdy did was wrong but the difference between him and arsenal players is the fact he didnt actualy try and kick the women , Arsenal players have a reputation under wenger ie pitch brawls when they lost , chucking food etc at opposition managers , head butting (especially bergkamp ) and what Gallas did wasnt wrong , there isnt anything wrong with sitting down but all it showed was the fact he was a big sissy and cry baby because they had not got the result they wanted now not even you could see someone like keown or tony adams acting like that !!

    From MuFc FoR LiFe, on Sat 19 Jul 5:08AM

  12. So a slap on the wrist for Rio when he clearly took out his anger on a defenceless innocent woman? Imagine that being a foreign player in Arsenal team doing the same thing, everyone would be screaming 4months to 6months ban. Gallas sat down at Birmingham after Arsenal loss and all the so-called "expert" wants his head as if he had committed a crime or he sitting down on the pitch any of their f-ucking business.

    From beneto, on Sat 19 Jul 1:16AM

  13. (In the immortal words of Kevin Keegan) "I'd love it if..." John B turned out to be a Chelsea fan. Buying trophies, who'd do a thing like that?!!!

    From stevie_dayuk, on Fri 18 Jul 11:31PM

  14. The racism aspect must be real otherwise the FA wouldnt be following it up, they really want to make sure english football has a clean image. No one will be prosecuted probably maybe it will be settled outside.

    From zehst, on Fri 18 Jul 11:15PM

  15. Great Rio is clear. It sounds like Chelsea acted a little bit in haste with their statement here. A big club like Chelsea wouldn't want to be at a place where it is siding with a racist. I am not saying the care taker made those comment or not, all I am saying is that as the issue stands at the moment either Man U or Chelsea should stay clear. A lot of people have suffered due to careless racial comments like mentioned here. Surely no professional club would want to be seen as blocking efforts to curb the problem by making premature statements like these aimed at manipulating investigations.

    From Lot, on Fri 18 Jul 10:13PM

  16. john b lame

    From Fahmi Y, on Fri 18 Jul 10:06PM

  17. John B. I have never heard such unadulterated rubbish. Please read the article and then digest before responding

    From Peter Y, on Fri 18 Jul 10:02PM

  18. John B. I have never heard such unadulterated rubbish. Please read the article and then digest, before responding

    From Peter Y, on Fri 18 Jul 10:01PM

  19. John B. Did you struggle to read that? Did you miss the part where is says Evra is being charged and could face a fine or suspension?

    From David W, on Fri 18 Jul 9:54PM

  20. just shows you the minute you play the race card the F A back down,and utd know this all to well

    From chloejaneryan, on Fri 18 Jul 9:53PM
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