soccer: Reading pair will not face action

[AFC1986]

credit: www.bbc.co.uk



The Football Association has said no disciplinary action will arise from the incidents at Reading which saw two Chelsea goalkeepers hospitalised.
Petr Cech suffered a fractured skull following a clash with Stephen Hunt and deputy Carlo Cudicini was concussed after a collision with Ibrahima Sonko.

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho claimed the challenge on Cech was "a disgrace" and the keeper was "lucky to be alive."

But the FA says it cannot be sure that either challenge was deliberate.

A statement said: "The FA has reviewed the incidents involving Stephen Hunt/Petr Cech and Ibrahima Sonko/Carlo Cudicini and has contacted referee Mike Riley, who confirmed that the match officials saw both incidents at the time.

"There will therefore be no further action."

Cudicini criticised Riley for failing to send off Hunt and Sonko for the challenges that hospitalised him and Cech.

The FA also issued warnings to Reading defender Andre Bikey and Chelsea midfielder Mikel Jon Obi over their reactions to being sent off in seperate incidents in a stormy match at the Madejski Stadium.

There were also warnings to Chelsea fitness coach Rui Faria, who was sent from the touchline, and Reading assistant manager Kevin Dillon following an exchange in the pitchside technical area.

The FA statement added: "Bikey and Obi have been reminded of their responsbilities in relation to their conduct after being sent off.

"Reading assistant manager Kevin Dillon and Chelsea fitness coach Rui Faria have also been reminded of their responsibilities following an incident in the technical area towards the end of the match."

Blues' boss Jose Mourinho claimed it took 30 minutes for an ambulance to arrive for Cech.

However, a South Central Ambulance Service NHS Trust spokesman told BBC Five Live that it took seven minutes.

In a statement, Chelsea said "serious questions" needed answering.

As well as Hunt's challenge on Cech in the first minute, the Blues are also expected to mention Sonko's collision with Cudicini.

Chelsea's director of communications Simon Greenberg told BBC Radio Five Live: "We have got several serious questions that we would like the FA, or the appropriate authority, to look into.

"Those will be submitted to the FA along with other questions regarding incidents that took place in the game."

The dispute has led to a series of claims and counter-claims.


Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho says:
Cech spent 30 minutes waiting for an ambulance


Reading and ambulance staff say:
Ambulance called at 1745 BST
Ambulance arrived at 1752 BST
Ambulance left at 1804 BST
Ambulance arrived at hospital at 1811 BST


Mourinho says:
Cech "couldn't leave the dressing room properly and had to go, with the injury he had, in a wheelchair in the lift."

Ambulance duty officer Mark Ainsworth says:
The option to remove Cech on a stretcher around the pitch edge was "declined by the Chelsea doctor". The "other option was to go in a wheelchair".
Mourinho said on Tuesday: "If my goalkeeper dies in that dressing room or in the process it is something English football has to think about.

"This is much more important than football. I would like someone to tell me why my goalkeeper was left in this situation."

Reading Football Club also made a statement on Tuesday in response to Mourinho's allegations.

"Mr Mourinho has clearly implied that Reading Football Club did not have the proper medical arrangements in place to provide Petr Cech with the best possible treatment," the club said on its website.

"We feel it necessary to clearly set the record straight and provide the actual facts of the treatment received by the player."

Reading's statement also backs the timings of the ambulance arrival set out by the Trust.

Reading FC added in the statement: "Petr Cech was taken to the ambulance in a medical chair via a lift, but this was not a necessity.

"Another route to the ambulance could have been taken and was offered, which would have allowed Cech to remain on a stretcher (the same route used to take Carlo Cudicini to the ambulance later that afternoon), but Chelsea's medical staff decided against this."

[Dark Drakan]

It wasnt really intentional so i dont see why they should face any!