TEL AVIV - Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said today he did not personally witness his Barcelona counterpart Frank Rijkaard enter the referee's dressing room during a Champions League soccer match at the Nou Camp.
European governing body UEFA has charged the Premier League leaders with bringing the game into disrepute after
Mourinho accused Rijkaard of speaking to referee Anders Frisk at halftime in the first leg of the first knockout round tie on February 23.
UEFA specifically cited Mourinho, his assistant Steve Clarke and security man Les Miles. Chelsea, who were leading 1-0 at halftime, lost the first leg 2-1 after striker Didier Drogba was sent off.
"I just informed what people from my staff told me. I saw nothing, I wasn't involved," Mourinho told Israel's Channel 5.
"I am always the first man to leave the pitch at halftime and some assistants told me what happened.
"I have to believe in the people who work with me because the day I don't believe, I don't trust the people who work with me, I go home, or I send them home."
Mourinho earlier told a presentation to Israeli and Palestinian coaches: "I am the manager and I have people who assist me.
If something happens in the football stadium and I don't see and if some of my people arrive and tell me 'I saw this, this happened,' and then the other one comes and says, 'I saw the same' I say it's true, because I cannot work without loyalty, I have to believe my people."
Swede Frisk has subsequently retired from refereeing after saying he received death threats from Chelsea fans following the first leg.
Chelsea advanced to the quarterfinals after winning the second leg 4-2 at Stamford Bridge on March 8.
- REUTERS
