Source: Telegraph
Chelsea's Salomon Kalou denies 'handcuff' goal celebrations gesture
Manager Luiz Felipe Scolari had to be talked to by fourth official Steve Bennett after he tried to clash with Middlesbrough coach Malcolm Crosby after claiming that Mohamed Shawky should have received a second yellow card. [LNB]And later Salomon Kalou appeared to show a 'handcuff' salute when celebrating his two goals that took Chelsea second ahead of Sunday's visit to Liverpool. [LNB]Earlier this season, Ipswich's David Norris's goal celebrations, interpreted as a handcuffs gesture supposedly to show support for former team-mate Luke McCormick, serving a prison sentence, was fined by his club. [LNB]Kalou later denied there any political slant in the celebrations and a spokesperson for Chelsea declared: "Salomon says there was nothing in it. He was just trying out a new celebration and it was a crossing of the arms. He also sometimes puts his hand over his face like a mask." [LNB]The speculation that it was a political gesture was heightened when Ivory Coast team-mate Didier Drogba also appeared to cross his wrists. [LNB]Meanwhile, Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate accused Scolari of attempting to get Shawky sent off when the Middlesbrough player, who had already been booked, was penalised for handball. [LNB]"There were words between my assistant and Phil Scolari," said Southgate. "He seemed to want to get one of my players booked. He didn't shake hands at the end. A strange reaction, but that's his prerogative." [LNB]Chelsea assistant manager Ray Wilkins defended Scolari's actions, saying: "It's a very emotional game. Passions do run high - they ran high on their bench, they ran high on ours." [LNB]Wilkins said he was all in favour of the Football Association's recent 'Respect' campaign which is designed to reduce such behaviour by management and players. [LNB]"I'm all for respect - but if the referee felt he needed to be sent to the stands then he would have done so. [LNB]"Steve Bennett was on the side so he didn't advise the referee to send him to the stands so they must have felt it was OK." [LNB]
