Chelsea appear to have dropped their demands for action to be taken against the Reading midfielder Stephen Hunt after the collision which caused Petr Cech to undergo neurosurgery on Saturday.
Chelsea said would be writing to the FA with their observations on the incident, but it is understood that such a letter not been drafted.
Having reviewed the fall-out from Saturday’s game it appears the club no longer wish to pursue the matter further.
The Football Association do not intend to launch an investigation into the incident. Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho had described the midfielder’s challenge as “a disgrace” but referee Mike Riley did not mention the incident in his report. Moreover, the FA would have great difficult proving that there had been any intent on Hunt’s part.
Cech, who suffered a depressed fracture of the skull and is not expected to play again this year, is said to be “improving” and “fully conscious”.
He is likely to receive a letter from Hunt this morning after the Reading forward spoke publicly claiming that the incident was “a complete accident”.
“I can guarantee that I did not attempt to injure Petr,” said Hunt.
“I am very upset that the collision has resulted in such a bad injury. When Petr slid in to collect the ball, our momentum meant that a collision was unavoidable.
“I think the TV pictures show that the collision was a complete accident, and I’d like to think that my team-mates and opponents throughout my career in football would say that I’m not the kind of person to deliberately hurt an opponent.
“Serious injury is the worst part of football and I feel terribly sorry for Petr. I have written to him to wish him a full recovery.”
A statement released yesterday by Reading said: “We respect the right of Chelsea Football Club to ask the Football Association to review the incident and we would fully co-operate with any inquiry that may take place. We have nothing to hide and believe that all the evidence fully vindicates Stephen Hunt.”
