Chelsea will contest FA charges over player conduct

The Barclays Premier League club stand accused of failing to control their players during Sunday's 2-0 defeat at Manchester United.

The charge relates to the conduct of their players towards match official Mike Dean following his decision to red card Mikel John Obi for his tackle on United's Patrice Evra.

The will also contest the FA's decision to charge Clarke with using foul and/or insulting behaviour to match officials after the game.

Chelsea's appeal against the Mikel red card was rejected on Tuesday and he was banned for three matches, beginning with last night's Carling Cup victory at Hull.

But the Blues are now ready to launch a "strong defence" against the FA's latest move.

A Chelsea statement read: "Chelsea Football Club will be strongly defending the two charges issued by the Football Association and will be considering that defence until we have to respond on October 12."

England captain John Terry, who tried to grab Dean's red card, has escaped an individual charge.

The FA Statement read: "Chelsea have been charged with failing to control their players during their match against Manchester United on 23 September.

"This charge relates to the conduct of Chelsea players towards referee Mike Dean following the sending-off of John Obi Mikel.

"Clarke has been charged with using abusive and/or insulting words towards the match officials after the end of the match at Old Trafford."

Meanwhile, Terry has paid tribute to former Chelsea employee Vicky Buchanan, who was killed by a lorry while cycling to work at Stamford Bridge last year.

The following day, former Blues boss Jose Mourinho dedicated their Champions League victory over Barcelona to the 28-year-old.

Buchanan was due to marry the son of legendary athlete Sir Chris Chataway and the couple would have been on honeymoon at the time of this year's BUPA Great North Run.

Chataway, along with son Adam and his future daughter-in-law, had been great supporters of the run and now family, friends and staff from Chelsea will be taking part in the event to raise funds for an Ethiopian water project set-up in her memory.

Terry declared: "She is very sorely missed. It is a great cause and charity.

"We got the news of her death before the Barcelona game and devastation throughout the squad was immense. We got the call very early in the morning and the manager spoke about it in his team meeting as well.

"We dedicated the Barcelona win to Vicky and we were playing for her that night. She was very well loved, not just by the players, but among friends and colleagues in the office. She was a fantastic girl.

"Everyone is running for Vicky on the day. There is a lot of guys from Chelsea, not too fit mind, but everyone is running and getting out there for a great cause. It will be a great day.

"The guys have added a few bits to the charity already, shirts and things. We will continue to do that in the future. I am happy to be associated with this and long may it continue.

"She will be remembered forever at Chelsea. She made everybody feel welcome."

Terry's England coach Steve McClaren is also taking part in the run and the Chelsea skipper put some early pressure on him in terms of a finishing time for the 13-mile haul.

Terry said: "The boss is quite fit. I am sure he will be setting himself a target of getting a good time but we'll have to wait and see.

"Maybe give him a target of an hour-an-a-half and put a bit of pressure on him. It is a long way but the boss is getting out there for a great cause.

"We've had the information through about supporting his charity as well so the Chelsea and England boys will be doing that."

While at Newcastle University, Buchanan worked with ActionAid on a water project providing clean running water to Dalocha in Ethiopia. Now ActionAid have identified a similar Ethiopian venture to support as a legacy to Buchanan's memory.

Named simply 'Vicky's Water Project', it will bring clean running water to Lera Town.

Buchanan was head of operations for Chelsea Pitch Owners when she died.