Sport 17-03-2005 Jose Mourinho: Enemy of Football who: Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho what: Described as an enemy of football by UEFA official after Champions` League referee resigns in fear of retribution from Chelsea fans where: Stamford Bridge, LONDON when: This week snippet: "Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has been cleared by UEFA, European football`s governing body, over claims that he was responsible for the sudden retirement of referee Anders Frisk," says The Telegraph, following a war of words this week which peaked when Volker Roth, head of the UEFA referees` committee, described the Chelsea manager as "an enemy of football". "Mourinho was critical of Frisk`s performance in Chelsea`s visit to Barcelona last month," recalls The Telegraph, "and accused the referee of speaking with home manager Frank Rijkaard during the half-time break." He further incurred Mourinho`s wrath by sending off Didier Drogba, leadin to a 2-1 win for the Nou Camp hosts. Since then, the Swedish ref says he has lived in fear of violent reprisals from Chelsea fans and finally announced his retirement on Saturday. "The things that have happened in the last 16 days have simply made refereeing not worth it any more," he said, quoted in The Guardian. "Let me put it this way, Chelsea have fans all over the world, not just in England. The threats have been escalating every day. It has got to the stage where no one else in the family is allowed to go out to the letterbox - only me. This is a battle I cannot win. I just hope that the threats will stop now they know that I am not refereeing any more." So, Mourinho will not officially be blamed for Frisk`s departure from football. But, says The Sun, "Europe`s governing body have also hit Chelsea with a series of charges after the team were late out for the second-half in the Nou Camp and Mourinho refused to attend a post-match Press conference." [... more]

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