Johansson criticises Mourinho and Chelsea over
morals
Uefa president Lennart Johansson has criticised the behaviour of
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho after the midweek Champions League
draw in Barcelona. Uefa will hold an inquiry into the game - in
which the Blues had six players booked - but Johansson, 76, said he
was disappointed by the Chelsea boss.
"Mourinho has a duty to see he has respect for the game and not to
behave like a kid," he told the Sunday Mirror. "He makes statements
like someone whos been promised candy but didnt get it." Johansson,
who was in London seeking support for his campaign to be re-elected
as Uefa president, said fining Chelsea was unlikely to have a big
impact on the London club.
"I do not believe in fines when Chelsea have the money they have to
pay it. It must be judged differently," he said. "Its like any
crime - when it happens the first time you are treated in a fairly
decent way but, if you repeat the crime, sentencing is much
tougher. Sometimes we are not severe enough."
Johansson said he was not happy with the manner in which Chelsea
and owner Roman Abramovich had used their financial power to build
a squad of world-class stars - but admitted Uefa were powerless to
intervene. "If someone is wealthy enough to buy a club and he likes
to spend his money buying players what can we do about it?" he
said.
"If you talk about law, thats one thing. Here its a question of
morals. Im very, very sad about this development. Im against it. I
have to wait until the laws exist and try to come back to the
original situation where everybody was happy when we had a balance
between home-produced and imported players. And more and more clubs
and coaches are doing the same. Is it morally wrong what Chelsea
are doing? For me, it is. But, at the same time, I cannot blame
them for doing something that in law is accepted."
