Source: Telegraph
Luiz Felipe Scolari hits out at referee over John Terry red card
The Chelsea manager refused to comment on Terry's challenge on Leon Osman immediately after the game, though witnesses alleged that he followed referee Phil Dowd down the tunnel at half-time and asked if he was afraid, apparently in reference to the reaction of the Goodison Park crowd.[LNB]Scolari, though, strongly denied behaving in an aggressive manner and the Football Association are content that the matter has now been dealt with.[LNB]"At the time I was angry and disappointed with something on the pitch," Scolari said. "I've looked at all the game again and some moments many times, and I don't change [my opinion]. For me it is not normal, but he is the referee.[LNB]"After John Terry had seen the red card, he goes and apologises and he leaves the game normally, as a very good captain. He accepted the decision of the referee but I don't understand the decision.[LNB]"I asked some things to him, but not that it's a problem. I only asked why this, why that. It was normal talking between a coach and a referee, not shouting. And the referee said to me what he thinks and it finished."[LNB]Terry will now miss the Premier League games against West Brom and Fulham and the FA encounter against Southend, but there will be relief that he will return for the match against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Jan 10.[LNB]Chelsea were well aware that any appeal could also risk the danger of the FA extending the ban to four matches.[LNB]Terry's challenge has left Osman on crutches and awaiting the results of an X-ray to his ankle injury. "It's badly bruised but if it's positive news then he will have the chance to play in all the festive games," Everton physio Mick Rathbone said.[LNB]Everton manager David Moyes initially described Terry's challenge as "reckless", but was satisfied that there was no malice.[LNB]"JT is a good lad and I admire him because he is wholehearted," Moyes said. "He came to see Leon afterwards and asked to see if he was okay and had a quick word with him. That was fine by me.[LNB]"I don't think for one minute that JT was out to do him any harm, but when you are wholehearted and committed for your team sometimes [tackles like that] happen.[LNB]"Leon is in a lot of pain, so for him to go on and play through that after the tackle was terrific. He showed a great deal of courage. In the second half, he told us he could hardly feel his foot at all."[LNB]Terry's central defensive partner Alex will also not be punished retrospectively by the FA after Dowd reviewed video footage of an incident with Everton midfielder Tim Cahill. Television pictures showed Alex treading on the Everton midfielder, but Dowd reviewed the video footage yesterday and was satisfied that there was no intent and that he would not have issued a red card.[LNB]"Tim didn't react, he didn't roll over three or four times," Moyes said. "He just got on with it and took it as part of the game."[LNB]Having taken just six out of the last 15 available league points, Scolari praised the "spirit and solidarity" against Everton and has also been boosted by the return to training yesterday of Ricardo Carvalho.[LNB]The Portugal defender has been sidelined for two months with a knee ligament injury, but is hoping to return for the FA Cup third round match against Southend on Jan 3.[LNB]"There is no crisis at all," Scolari said. "Nor is there any curse on playing at home. There are just good opponents and, sometimes, some mistakes on our part."[LNB]Didier Drogba, meanwhile, has denied wanting to leave Chelsea after previously having described the past six months as the worst in his career.[LNB]"I am not thinking about leaving Chelsea in the winter market," he said. "I have a contract here and want to continue." [LNB]
