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Referees are picking on us, says angry Cole
Simon Johnson2 Feb 2009
Jose Bosingwa has apologised for his kung fu' kick on Liverpool's Yossi Benayoun.
Bosingwa was not even booked for the challenge and the Football Association are awaiting referee Mike Riley's match report before deciding whether the full-back will be charged.
It is likely that he will receive a ban for the incident and Bosingwa admits he was in the wrong. He said: “I apologise for what I did and it was never my intention to hurt him. I know it was wrong and I apologise.”
Chelsea lost the match 2-0 but only conceded after Frank Lampard was controversially sent off by Riley on the hour. Luiz Felipe Scolari's side are now five points behind leaders Manchester United, who also have a game in hand.
Bosingwa added: “It could have been very different with 11 players than with 10, it could have been easier. But we will never know.
“It's always frustrating to lose big games and especially in this way. It was important to get points and not let United go. That didn't happen, so we are upset.”
Chelsea have appealed Lampard's dismissal for a lunge at Xabi Alonso but he will be suspended for the next three games — including the FA Cup tie with Watford on 14 February — unless Riley changes his mind over the controversial decision.
John Terry has also been ruled out of the game at Vicarage Road after he was shown a yellow card for dissent but Ashley Cole feels Chelsea were the victims rather than the perpetrators at Anfield and pointed to Manchester City's game at Stoke as his example.
Rory Delap was sent off after clashing with Shaun
Wright-Phillips but the winger escaped censure after he kicked out at the Stoke player while on the ground.
Cole said: “All the players watched what happened with Shaun Wright-Phillips [at Stoke] and no one gets booked or questioned about it. We do one little tackle and we seem to be getting yellow and red cards.”
Replays suggested the decision to send off Lampard was extremely harsh, as the midfielder took the ball before being caught on his ankle by Alonso.
There is history between Lampard and Alonso, after a challenge from the Chelsea player on New Year's Day in 2005 left the Spaniard with a broken ankle.
Scolari said: “I want the referee to look at the replay and maybe then he will change the red card. If you see the replay, you can see that maybe it was a foul by Alonso.
“I ask only for the FA and the referee to look at the video.”
But Bosingwa was lucky after digging his studs into Benayoun's back as the Liverpool substitute tried to kill time by the corner flag. Scolari added: “As for Jose Bosingwa he made a mistake and maybe he will have a punishment from the FA.”
Reader views (11)
Before the FA committee hold a meeting a nurse goes around and takes the pulses of the old duffers, just in case somebody has popped his cloggs and nobody has noticed. How do these people run our game ???
Rugby and Cricket use a video ref, Tennis now has Hawkeye, but football must continue with the Mr Magoos of this world. Why do they not hold a poll of all season ticket holders, or is that just to democratic.
- Steve M, London, 03/02/2009 02:31
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If you watch the tackle at proper speed, then you cannot blame the ref for his decision. We can all be experts after several re -runs, however, he does not have that luxury. He made a mistake, but it was a genuine mistake, unlike the BOSWINGA tackle, he seemed to bottle that one.
- James, london, 02/02/2009 17:23
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Given how many players have had red cards this season as a result of Alonso's antics, Riley should have not been so hasty with his card. Just a few minutes earlier Alonso had severly fouled Kalou and Gerrard's tackle a little earlier was worthy of a red card. I agree with Kerry of Purley about Riley; however, is this just a result of our favourite scousers getting special treatment from on high? Although Chelsea are not playing well at the moment, had they not been down to ten men for one third of the match, a draw might have been salvaged. Well done Riley!!??
- Ian, Cranbrook, Kent, 02/02/2009 16:07
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As a Chelsea fan I'd just wish the players didn't comment, it only fuels the press and we know how anti-Chelsea they have always been. Even before the money came. Riley will rescind the card on video evidence, but Boswinga will no doubt be banned by the FA for his tackel and rightly so. Lets hope they look at the Gerrard tackle and take action but thats a long shot as "Stevie Me" is the darling of the FA and media.
If this had been Manchester United Riley would not be refing a United game for the next two seasons. The whole FA needs to be overhauled and people with conflicting infulence removed. Refs should be punished for poor performances and foreign refs bought in for big games.
- Terence Harrington, Canterybury, UK, 02/02/2009 14:38
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Interesting how the big clubs attract attention from fans of other clubs. Fairly sure you won't find Chelsea fans commenting on Tottenham and Arsenal's dismal season. We're just not interested...
I am completely biased but what was Mike Riley thinking? How can he possibly dictate the outcome of such an important fixture with a decision like that? So we get the red card rescinded - so what? Mike Riley should be given a 3 match ban and warned as to his future conduct...
Liverpool won't win the title, but then again nor will Chelsea. Can't see beyond United & deservedly so.
- Cfc_Sw6, Watford, 02/02/2009 13:39
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Shut up, Cashley - go home and count your money.
- Keith, Kings Cross, London, UK, 02/02/2009 13:33
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yeah we were clueless, yeah we deserved to get little or nothing, but the contest was over when that clown riley sent off Lampard. No one reckons it was a foul, except numpty Riley, yet Gerrards foul (yes Stevie G the FA's darling awaiting trial on an assualt charge) was a stonewall red!! Riley is either incompetent or a cheat or perhaps a bit of both.
- Kerry, Purley, 02/02/2009 13:14
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Riley is the idiot.
Lampard's was a fair tackle, no worse that Gerrard's earlier, 3 yards from Riley, which he let go.
Bosingwa pushed Benayoun in the butt with his studs- it wasn't a "kung-Fu" kick, and it wasn't in the back, but it was a sending off offence.
Why one rule for Rooney (stamps against Aalborg, Carvalho etc) and Gerrard, and another for Lampard?
Riley is not fit for purpose- put him on Line duty for a season.
Having said that, Liverpool deserved to win, and in a way I'm glad that they are on Man U's coat-tails, but DON'T write off Chelsea- we need to get the siege mentality that Jose used to instill- COME ON YOU BLUES!!
- Fresh, London, 02/02/2009 12:53
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Cole is an idiot who should not complain - look back at his tackle at Spurs (worst seen for some time) last Season when the same Ref did not send him off
- Voomvoom, wembley, 02/02/2009 11:51
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We are a selling club - a club in decline get rid of Kalou, Malouda and Drogba. No cash ? No ambition ? well then bring in the kids and make us proud again.
- Steve Martin, London, 02/02/2009 11:44
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Ah, poor Ashley! What was Bosingwa doing then, Ash, helpfully kicking an ant off Benayoun's shorts? It has to be said the best thing I heard on the radio all weekend were "and a mistake by Cole, through to Torres ... SCORES!"
- Paul, London, 02/02/2009 11:34
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