'Don't kick Chelsea out', pleads Rijkaard

Updated: 2005-03-28 10:51

Barcelona boss Frank Rijkaard insists he does not want Chelsea thrown out of the Champions League.

Barcelona manager Frank Rijkaard has pleaded UEFA not to force out England elite Chelsea from Champions League for comments made by Chealsea manager Jose Mourinho who has been accused by the UEFA of making "false, wrong and unfounded" allegations against Barca. Chelsea eliminated Barca 4-2 in UEFA Champions League to reach the last eight.

That is one of the options open to UEFA who have charged Chelsea, manager Jose Mourinho, assistant boss Steve Clarke and a security officer with bringing the game into disrepute following last month's trip to the Nou Camp.

Rijkaard would welcome severe punishment against Mourinho, who has been accused by UEFA of making 'false, wrong and unfounded' allegations that Rijkaard spoke with referee Anders Frisk in the referee's dressing room at half-time in the European tie.

But he insists it would be wrong not to admonish Chelsea as a club in such an extreme way as to end their Champions League venture.

"I do not think that they should be forced out," said Rijkaard.

"These are two separate things - his attitude and that of the club."

Frisk has since retired from all football after receiving threats from Chelsea supporters following the first leg, which Chelsea lost 2-1 - only to recover and win the second leg 4-2 to secure their passage to the quarter-finals.

Rijkaard has been made aware of the potential threat to Chelsea's European title bid, but said: 'I don't want a sanction like that.

"This is not my objective, but that in the future these types of comments are stopped - those at first which appear not too serious but later a situation takes place as it did with Frisk and which is serious."

"It should be known that famous sports people can manipulate people that do not have sufficient intellect."

Barcelona's Dutch manager appears to have the support of UEFA after insisting there was no such meeting between himself and Frisk.

And he continues to feel riled by Chelsea's allegations, stressing: "They were lies and serious ones."

Chelsea's case will be heard by UEFA in Nyon on March 31.

"The situation with Anders Frisk is clear, he was threatened by the supporters of Chelsea and he retired because he was in fear," said Rijkaard on Radio Barcelona.

"This is serious."

"We will see what UEFA says, but for me it appears right that there is a sanction for that but not for his [Mourinho's] work at the club."

"To create an atmosphere is okay, but within limits."

"What Mourinho did was a serious error against the referee, my name and also against Barca."

"If we do not give attention to this matter people will think that they are buying referees or that they are conditioning matches and that is not true."

"It appears correct to me that they investigate and that they (UEFA) take measures."

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