Soccer/Chelsea v West Brom: Chelsea were subjected to a stinging attack last night from the most senior official at Uefa, Lars-Christer Olsson, over the premature retirement of the referee Anders Frisk.
"We will not allow the slandering of match officials to become part of pre-match tactics," said the Uefa chief executive. "We must sanction anyone within the football family who makes inflammatory statements that could jeopardise the security of match officials and their families and brings the game into disrepute."
Chelsea are understood to have made informal representations to Olsson after the remarks of the chairman of Uefa's referees' committee, Volker Roth, at the weekend. Roth called manager Jose Mourinho "the enemy of football" and accused him of inciting the death threats that caused Frisk to retire at the weekend.
Roth went further in yesterday's Bild Zeitung in his native Germany by intimating that strike action is afoot. "There will be a demonstration of solidarity among the referees as you have never seen before," said Roth. "I am really no friend of strikes, but we must consider measures. We cannot just do nothing."
Chelsea condemned fans of the club who had threatened Frisk and pledged to take "appropriate action". "Chelsea would like to make it absolutely clear that the club and our manager Jose Mourinho condemn any threats made to Mr Frisk, his family or friends which may have, in any way, influenced his decision to retire as a referee," said the club.
Chelsea yesterday had to deal with another of their escalating disciplinary problems when Mourinho and Ashley Cole submitted conflicting evidence to Premier League lawyers as the inquiry into allegations of an illegal approach from Chelsea for the Arsenal left-back reached its final stages.
Cole and Mourinho are understood to have been the last witnesses called. A verdict, with any charges stemming from it, is expected by Friday.
The pair gave differing accounts of events leading to the meeting at London's Royal Park Hotel on January 27th. Mourinho stated that Cole's representative, Jonathan Barnett, had instigated the meeting by calling the agent Pini Zahavi and asking to speak to the club's senior management.
Cole is said to have disputed this, claiming that he was unaware Mourinho and Kenyon would be in attendance until the pair arrived with Zahavi.
Meanwhile, Chelsea winger Arjen Robben has recovered from two minor fractures in his foot and is set to be restored to action against relegation candidates West Brom at Stamford Bridge tonight.
Mourinho will also have Scott Parker available, with the midfielder back from a broken foot.
Andy Johnson is West Brom's only absentee. With the exception of long-term knee injury victim Johnson, Albion will travel with a clean bill of health as they go in search of an unlikely first away win of their 2004-2005 league campaign.
Stamford Bridge, 7.45 On TV: Sky Sports 1