Dossier In Essien Defence

[Aesthetic Relic 301]

Chelsea to hand over dossier in Essien defenceSaturday December 1, 2007The Guardian Chelsea have compiled a video dossier to form part of their defence against a Football Association charge of failing to control their players following the midfielder Michael Essien's dismissal at Derby last week, with the footage aimed at illustrating the inconsistency in the governing body's reaction to such incidents.A clutch of Chelsea players, led by the England captain John Terry, had surrounded the referee Andre Marriner after Essien was sent off for raising an arm, with the FA confirming the charge last Tuesday. In response, Chelsea have collected incidents from a number of recent Premier League games, including Wigan's trip to Arsenal last weekend, where players have berated the officials only for no charges to be brought.Chelsea were fined £30,000 and warned as to their future conduct after their players' furious reaction to Mikel Jon Obi's dismissal at Old Trafford in September. However, it is understood that footage from the same match of Manchester United players surrounding the referee Mike Dean and demanding he produce a card is included in the dossier to be presented to the FA ahead of the December 12 cut-off for an appeal.The manager Avram Grant, who has complained Chelsea are being targeted after three players were sent off in his nine Premier League games in charge, insisted yesterday that his team were innocent at Pride Park. "I don't think my players did anything wrong," he said. "Derby's players were more fussed than my players, demanding the red card." Despite comments from some quarters that he has only tinkered with the set-up inherited from Jose Mourinho, Grant added that he has had to change Chelsea's style because the counterattacking favoured by his predecessor is becoming outdated. "Three years ago one-third of the goals in the world were from counter-attacking and last year the figure was down to 20% and it will go down further," he said.

[manpe 10,861]

Wtf is this last line about ? Again mocking Mourinho ?Anyways. It's good that Chelsea are taking action. But it's the FA for god's sake... It won't make much difference. But let's hope.

[Steve 10,227]

good to see we are appealing but dont no if it will get us anywhere

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Knowing the FA, this will land in a prison sentence for Abramovich and a hanging without trial for Essien.

[Steve 10,227]

haha the FA really need to work witht he clubs a bit more and come to a reasonable agreement not just say a straight no its not really fair

[bombayblue™ 55]

they should have done this for the manu game..

[captainmarvel 1]

this is useless.. the FA clearly aren't in our favour.. as if this is going to make a difference

[Aesthetic Relic 301]

At least they're doing something instead of bending over and taking it up the arse.If they wanna play hard ball with us we may as well play with them. If it is a case of double standards and the evidence we have shows we are being victimised I'd demand an apology and compensation.Wont happen though cause they are a shower of Bas***ds

[EskWeston 696]

Glad they are doing something, it is awful the way we are targeted, watching the Arsenal game at the weekend they surrounded the ref at every chance, nothing will come of it. It is blatantly wrong and i am gald the club are doing something.