Uefa has told Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho to stop criticising referees.
Chelsea meet Barcelona tonight with the visitors holding a 2-1 lead from the first leg played in Barcelona fortnight ago.
Mourinho suggested that Anders Frisk – referee of the first leg of their Champions League tie – favoured the home side in the opening leg.
Uefa spokesman William Gaillard has responded to the claim.
“He can say many things but frankly to get into this area of refereeing is counter-productive,” said Gaillard.
“Let’s stop casting more doubt on the honesty of Anders Frisk, who is an outstanding referee.”
“I don’t think it is very helpful to keep on critcising the work of a referee like Frisk.
“He has had an outstanding career, has taken many courageous decisions, often in front of hostile crowds.
“To suggest he influenced the game in Barcelona is an unacceptable comment.
“It’s time to shut up and get on with the game between two great coaches in what should be a fantastic match,” added Gaillard.
For the second leg of the tie, UEFA have appointed experienced referee Pierluigi Collina to officiate – a move predicted by Mourinho.
“We didn’t really appreciate Jose Mourinho saying at the beginning of the week that we had assured Chelsea that Collina would be refereeing the game. It is not true,” added Gaillard.
“He was trying to put pressure on us. We had decided to appoint Pierluigi Collina even before we considered the incidents but his comments made it very difficult for us to do so.
“He should stop picking out which referees he likes and which he doesn’t like.”
