CHELSEA STATEMENT ON
JOHN OBI MIKEL
Chelsea has issued a statement in response to an eight month-old
letter from Manchester United to FIFA concerning John Obi Mikel
that has been leaked to the media.
Mikel, a young Nigerian international who trained with Chelsea in
the winter of 2004, has been involved in a transfer dispute between
Chelsea, Manchester United and Norwegian club FC Lyn Oslo where he
has been playing.
Chelsea refutes the allegations of misconduct made by United in the
letter saying they are "without foundation" and
"fabrications".
The Chelsea statement said: "Chelsea Football Club is aware that at
least one copy of a private and confidential letter from FC Lyn
Oslo and Manchester United to FIFA dated May 18, 2005, that made
unfounded allegations against Chelsea in the case of John Obi
Mikel, has been leaked to the media.
"It is outrageous that private and confidential correspondence
relating to proceedings before FIFA has been deliberately leaked in
this way in an attempt to smear Chelsea's name and, more
importantly, to undermine an active FIFA process and pressurise
Mikel.
"For the record, Chelsea was asked by FIFA for a response after
this letter was sent to Chelsea in May 2005. Chelsea informed FIFA
at the time that these allegations were without foundation. The
leaking of such fabrications some eight months later does not
change Chelsea's position.
"As far as Chelsea is concerned this whole issue is a matter for
FIFA, which is the correct and most competent authority to decide
on it. Such proceedings involve Mikel, United and Lyn. Chelsea is
not a party to those proceedings."
- credit: The Official Chelsea FC
Website, 30 Jan 2006
First Arsenal, now Man U. Hmm .... 