Premier League - Fuming Scolari escapes FA rap

Eurosport - Mon, 01 Dec 15:29:00 2008

Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari will not face FA charge over comments made about referee Mike Dean following the 2-1 defeat at home to Arsenal.

2008-2009 Chelsea-Arsenal Luiz Felipe Scolari - 0

Scolari accused Dean of "killing" Chelsea and demanded an apology after Dean and his assistant allowed Robin van Persie's equaliser for Arsenal, which should have been ruled offside.

The Brazilian escaped punishment despite the FA's recent crackdown on criticism of referees as part of the much-maligned 'Respect' campaign.

Sir Alex Ferguson of Manchester United, David Moyes of Everton, Joe Kinnear of Newcastle and Phil Brown of Hull City have all been fined following run-ins with officials this season.

Scolari's comments came after the flag stayed down when the offside Van Persie collected a pass from Denilson on the edge of the penalty area, before smashing the ball past Petr Cech.

He said: "Have you ever heard me speak about referees any time in the games I have been here? Never, in 15 in the Premier League, four in the Champions League, the Carling Cup, I have not said anything, but today is different.

"I do not want the referee to make something different - I want only after tomorrow that he looks at the television, that the referee and the linesman see they are wrong, and they say 'sorry'.

"That is all I want, no more, because they were not good and made a mistake, which I understand.

"I do not want three points, all I want is them to say sorry it was a mistake, because in the first half, the same linesman made a mistake against us with [Salomon] Kalou.

"He is human and he can make a mistake, but the offside has killed my team. I just want them to say they are wrong, because I am wrong when I put some players in, or the players are wrong when they make a mistake in front of goal or are not covering.

"These are all wrong, but the referee is never wrong. I do not think they came here to deliberately make a mistake against us.

"It is difficult to play for my team after this, because they lost their concentration. The offside killed my team."

Van Persie admitted he had strayed beyond the last man but said the goal was payback for one he had incorrectly disallowed against Chelsea in 2005.

He said: "I scored a goal against Chelsea [in 2005]. I was onside, but the ref gave it offside and it didn't count. This time was maybe a little bit offside, but it counted and that's all that matters."

Sporting Life / Eurosport

Comment 147 - 166 of 206

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  1. The ref should apologize!!! and the linesman should be­ disciplined for not raising the flag 4 offside. Van­ Persie wasnt abit offside, he was really offside.

    From auchy, on Mon 1 Dec 7:51PM

  2. the ref needs to apologise for the mistake he did!

    From Aboagye Agyeman, on Mon 1 Dec 7:38PM

  3. ...and its embarrassing and outrageous to see people­ think this is about individual clubs such as those who­ mock Chelsea on losing to Arsenal. This is not a person­ opinion cos i'm sure they, those who benefit from­ such inconsistencies and outrageous decisions by­ officials will someday turn victims.... Only time will­ tell.

    From olarewaju, on Mon 1 Dec 7:29PM

  4. We need the likes of Josse Mourhino in times like­ this...to help justify and illustrate the FAs stupidity­ in buying respect at the expense of English clubs. No­ wonder why they were happier at his exit from Chelsea­ FC. They knew he feared no one, no amount of fine would­ keep him from voicing out his concerns.

    From olarewaju, on Mon 1 Dec 7:25PM

  5. oh oh

    From L, on Mon 1 Dec 7:24PM

  6. They played 94 mins and never scored a goal...just one­ target on goal and now they look for excuses

    From D' Etteh, on Mon 1 Dec 7:23PM

  7. "Respect campaign my foot!!!!"

    From olarewaju, on Mon 1 Dec 7:19PM

  8. Idiots launching a campaign to express their own­ foolishness.... Match fixing is the next cracker to be­ seen in the premier league....

    From olarewaju, on Mon 1 Dec 7:18PM

  9. the FA is certainly made up of a bunch of retards and­ @#$%. Ruling their own stupid world in the seat of­ English football. No wonder why the stupid refs will­ never be respected in the European bigger­ competitions....

    From olarewaju, on Mon 1 Dec 7:17PM

  10. Respect is gained; not offered.

    so the english fans­ need to realize that, and make a statement to the­ corrupted thicknecked englishmen who run the FA.

    if­ you want respect, than respect the teams, respect the­ fans. Only then will the fans respect you.
    until then,­ it is what it is. Scholari's words will go to deaf­ ears, and the word RESPECT will continue to lose its­ value until it no longer means anything. Perhaps than­ the FA will use some other word: like honor, or­ dignity, or something else they don't quite­ understand.

    From go, on Mon 1 Dec 7:10PM

  11. If FA unable/unwilling to make referess say sorry for­ serious mistakes such as that for allowing Van Perse­ goal nobody should expect the Respect Compaign"­ work. That is, I afraid, a hard fact. You will never be­ respected unless you respect others too.

    From MA, on Mon 1 Dec 7:08PM

  12. Why can't the FA tell the ref and his assistant to­ say sorry for their mistake,the FA keeps shouting­ 'respect campaign' and the premiership refs­ keeps hurting clubs and players.
    I think this is the­ time the FA should introduce video technology into­ football and stop this happening anymore.Its chelsea­ turn today,it might be any other club tomorrow.
    They­ can't fine scolari because he was saying the truth­ and they (FA) keep their hands down.Nobody is above­ mistake,MIKE DEAN,his assistant,the FA and all other­ refs should start learning how to say sorry when a­ mistake happens.The clubs,the teams and the fans­ deserves respect.

    From Memyself, on Mon 1 Dec 6:40PM

  13. Why can't the FA tell the ref and his assistant to­ say sorry for there mistake,the FA keep shouting­ 'respect campaign' and the premiership refs­ keeps hurting clubs and players.
    I think this is the­ time the FA should introduce video technology into­ football and stop this happening anymore.Its chelsea­ turn today,it might be any other club tomorrow.
    They­ can't fine scolari because he was saying the truth­ and they (FA) keep their hands down.Nobody is above­ mistake,MIKE DEAN,his assistant,the FA and all other­ refs should start learning how to say sorry when a­ mistake happens.The clubs,the teams and the fans­ deserves respect.

    From Memyself, on Mon 1 Dec 6:39PM

  14. scolari was right and how can anyone say that it did­ not effect the result chelsea were so much in control­ it was a sunday walk and then bam!!!! the referee­ decided that 2 yards off was on side but hey im a man u­ fan and was delighted with the result because i am sure­ that arsenal are still in serious trouble and it puts­ more doubt in chelsea minds all i want now is a good­ west ham result and it will be a great wekend all­ round
    come on rooney and co

    From patrick_oconnor2001, on Mon 1 Dec 6:21PM

  15. I miss Mourinho! Chelsea is loosing its invincibility­ at stanford bridge. The kids used to trmble when they­ go to that stadium. Now they are as free as a bird. Had­ it been not for their Djouru, it was two nil!

    From michael w, on Mon 1 Dec 6:08PM

  16. whoever wrote that article, just shut up!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From Affi, on Mon 1 Dec 6:08PM

  17. big phil is rite same old cheetin arsenal. u cnt­ respect blind officials it is ridiculous . by the way i­ am not an chelsea fan so u cnt call me biast

    From jeffrey.baines, on Mon 1 Dec 6:06PM

  18. Hey, youngyjue, I'm sick to my bones of hearing all­ these "if that were Joey Barton" snide­ remarks. everyone knows Barton is an evil loathesome­ git who really hasn't changed and deserves all the­ punishment that can and should be shovelled on him. His­ smacking of Agbonlahor's lips when they played­ Villa is similar if not worse than what Drogba did to­ Vidic and He got sent off.
    Just lay off comparing­ anyone to that guy

    From Steven, on Mon 1 Dec 6:00PM

  19. hey i am an arsenal fan and the game was good at the­ same time what scolari wants is an apology...... i­ would be pissed off if my team didnt win because of a­ linesman or ref. So what scolari should get is an­ apology. On the same note arsenal scored three goals­ Chelsea didn't do shyyyte.

    From arsenalize you, on Mon 1 Dec 5:44PM

  20. big surprise! another chelsea let off charge. and i­ dont remember him demanding that the ref appologise­ when anelka's goal was off-side a couple of­ week's ago.

    From ripped of, on Mon 1 Dec 5:40PM
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