Chelsea boss Grant urges FA to protect players

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The Chelsea manager has consistently claimed that his club are being victimised by referees and he told Soho Square chiefs to clamp down on opposition players.

Protection?: They need direction, Avram

John Obi Mikel, Didier Drogba and Michael Essien have all been sent off during Grant's 19-game spell in charge of the club and he claims Chelsea are being singled out for special treatment.

Avram said: "If you look at Arsenal's players on Sunday, who ran up to the referee to complain more — ours or theirs? It's part of the game.

"If players do that it is not important. The right message would be how we can protect players better. There were bad fouls on Sunday, including the one on John Terry.

"They need to prioritise. I have a feeling that it's easy to punish Chelsea, but there are bad challenges against us that are not punished.

"At the moment, I believe there are too many incidents, but I cannot tell you why. I just don't know."

Terry fears he will be out for three months after breaking three bones in his foot, but Grant is planning to bring in reinforcements in January.

Chelsea sporting director Frank Arnesen has held preliminary discussions with Chilean side Audax Italiano over the possible £3.4million transfer of 18-yearold Argentine striker Franco Matias Di Santo.

The 6ft 4ins Di Santo, who holds an Italian passport, has told his club he wants to leave during the transfer window, but Chelsea have yet to decide whether to follow up their interest.

Audax president Valentin Cantergiani seemed confident they would. He said: "Everything is nearly agreed, there are only a few details to be resolved but there will not be any problems."

Full back Ashley Cole is likely to find out today if he faces an FA charge over allegations he made a gesture towards Arsenal fans at the weekend.