Chelsea run to FIFA over 'injured'
Mikel
Mikel John Obi will face a FIFA probe after Chelsea
confirmed last night that they are making a formal complaint
following his selection for Nigeria on Tuesday night. Chelsea chief
Jose Mourinho claimed that Mikel had suffered a thigh injury during
their 1-0 victory over Charlton last Saturday that was likely to
keep him out "for about 10 days".
According to Stamford Bridge sources, the player was assessed by
the club's medical staff after he was substituted at The Valley in
the 75th minute and told not to join up with his national team for
their friendly against Ghana. Although Chelsea were at pains to
point out that their player did not defy his club manager, no one
at the Nigerian FA put a gun to his head when he declared himself
fit to face Nigeria at Griffin Park on Tuesday evening.
Miraculously, Mikel managed to play all 90 minutes of Nigeria's 4-1
defeat against their African rivals, but his appearance will have
done little to improve his relationship with Mourinho.
Chelsea, who court controversy at every turn, claim they will fire
off faxes to FIFA and the Nigerian FA this week, but Mikel has the
most to lose after another moment of indiscipline. Mourinho has not
been impressed with Mikel's attitude since his £16.5m move from
Manchester United in the summer and he has only been in the
starting line up because of injuries to other players.
The manager was not impressed when the midfielder made light of his
appalling time-keeping in an ill-advised interview with the Chelsea
programme and he has been disciplined several times already this
season. Mourinho left Mikel out of the team to face Reading on
Boxing Day and he followed it up with a stinging attack on his
midfielder after he was left in the stands for the 2-2 draw with
Fulham on Dec 30.
At the time, Mourinho said: "Two things irritate me and both are a
little bit out of my hands. One is injured players and the other
thing you cannot control is that some of the players, sometimes in
a quiet way, sometimes in a more noisy way, complain that they are
not playing. And when they do play, they don't play at a level they
should do.
"I hope some of the players have enough character to deal with the
situation. Sometimes, it is easy for players to speak out when they
are not playing and to get some friends, agents and parents to
speak, too. I think some of them should close their mouthS and not
speak too much."
Mikel can expect more questions when Mourinho returns to Stamford
Bridge on Thursday, but Chelsea refused to confirm on Wednesday
night whether he will be considered for selection against
Middlesbrough on Saturday.
Nigeria coach Austin Eguavoen said: "For Chelsea to say Mikel is
injured there is something wrong. He trained and I told him he was
going to play 90 minutes and he said: 'OK coach'. Everyone saw how
he played, so Chelsea weren't being straight with us."
