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 2006First Arsenal, now Man U. Hmm ....
