Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho says the club are unsure whether to appeal the red card shown to the captain John Terry during the 3-2 Premier League win over West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns. The former England skipper was dismissed by referee Mark Clattenburg after 53 minutes of the Blues first victory of the season following a coming together with Baggies forward Salomon Rondon.
Terry becomes the second player from the Premier League champions to be dismissed this term after goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was sent off against Swansea City on the opening weekend of the season. The west Londoners appealed the judgement but The Football Associations independent panel upheld the decision.
Should Chelsea wish to submit an appeal they have until 1pm on Monday [24 August] to confirm they wish to challenge the decision, and a further 24 hours following the deadline to submit video evidence to the FAs independent commission. Mourinhos side can expect a response 48 hours before the Premier League visit of Crystal Palace, the only game Terry will miss should an appeal not be lodged or subsequently fail.
However, the disciplinary decisions against Nemanja Matic, Diego Costa and Courtois means Mourinho has become disillusioned with The FA. The Chelsea boss is keen to appeal the decision but admits he may not be worth the trouble.
No [I dont blame Terry], Mourinho said in his post-match press conference, according to The Mirror. Its a ball into space behind the full-back. The full-back is pressing high. The striker makes the movement and then Mr Clattenburg decides a red card.
I prefer to focus on us. To speak about the sending off I have to speak about many other things in the game - some you can see, others we can see, so many things. I have to do what is in my hands which is to train. We have to train 10 against 11. We have done it a couple of times already in Canada. We have to do it more because we have to know what to do with 10 men when you are winning, or losing, or chasing a result.
The difference between today and Swansea was exactly that. Against Swansea we had 10 and we wanted to change the result, and today we had 10 and we wanted to keep the result. We must have clear ideas about it so its something we have to do in training, and that is the only thing in our hands.
On Chelseas history of challenging refereeing decisions, Mourinho added: Normally. I think we should appeal, but normally its a waste of time. Matic against Burnley last year, Diego Costa against Liverpool, Courtois... its a waste of time.
