Chelsea Latest News

Lampard three-match ban overturned by FA

Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard has escaped a three-match ban after the Football Association overturned his red card against West Ham at the weekend.

The 29-year-old was dismissed in the first half at Upton Park for a clash with Luis Boa Morte, although referee Peter Walton told an FA regulatory commission he and his assistant made a mistake.
The commission had to decide whether a 'serious and obvious' error had been made when Lampard was sent off for no more than a push in Boa Morte's chest.
They also had to take into consideration referees being instructed that, while endangering an opponent warrants a red card, contact on or above the neck is deemed violent conduct under UEFA guidelines.
Lampard's reprieve allows him to play against Barnsley in the FA Cup and the Barclays Premier League matches against Derby and Sunderland.
Chelsea boss Avram Grant was upset earlier in the season when Ashley Cole's appeal failed, and Lampard's case came a week after Middlesbrough's Jeremie Aliadiere saw his ban extended by a match for his appeal being 'frivolous'.
Grant was pleased with the outcome of Lampard's appeal.
'I think the decision is the right decision because even the referees sometimes make mistakes, especially the assistant referees,' the Chelsea boss said.
'It is not the first time. I think for the FA it is important to show when the referee makes a mistake that the game is fair for everybody. I was not happy when they did the same with Mikel (John Obi) it is a good start.'
Lampard's red card mattered little on the day, with Chelsea winning 4-0. The FA's decision also provides positive news ahead of the Champions League last-16 clash against Olympiacos, with the tie poised at 0-0 going into the second leg at Stamford Bridge.
'They will be a danger,' said Lampard in the London Evening Standard. 'They play a strong and compact game and are dangerous on the counter-attack.'
Lampard. meanwhile, is relishing Chelsea's role in the domestic title race and feels the club will be motivated by proving critics wrong after their Carling Cup final defeat to Tottenham.
'Everyone has been waiting for Chelsea to take a fall,' he said. 'It comes with the territory of being so successful over the last three or four years.
'So for us to lose a cup final a lot of people have taken a great deal of glory in it and that's a fact. But we won back-to-back championships and were still criticised for being boring, so we want to forget what anyone else says.
'What's very important is that we unite as a club on the inside - players, staff and fans as well. We must remember what we have achieved and what we can achieve. Together we have a great chance of doing it this season.
'I have seen a lot of people leaving us out of the running and I like that in a way. If we win our game in hand we are four points behind Arsenal and three behind Manchester United.
'We have to play them both at home, while they also have to play Liverpool. It comes down to us. If we go on a fantastic run and win the majority of our games we can win the league, that's a fact.'

Chelsea Idol? Club to give trials to Chinese TV winners

Chelsea are to give trials to four Chinese youngsters after agreeing a partnership with a talent show in the People's Republic.

The Super Soccer Star programme will be broadcast in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong next month, and the lucky quartet who are judged to have the most promise will then visit Chelsea's academy at Cobham in Surrey and their Stamford Bridge ground.
The contest is open to players aged between 14 and 16 and is another component of Chelsea's bid to boost their profile and presence in the Far East.
They are already the official football development partner of the Asian Football Confederation's Vision China project, which aims to set up 10 city leagues in China.
Blues chief executive Peter Kenyon said: 'We are delighted to be involved in such an innovative project that helps us deliver on our continuing commitment to promote grass roots football amongst youngsters in China.
'The show complements our involvement in Vision China with the AFC as well as showcasing Chelsea to a large audience and we look forward to hosting the finalists of Super Soccer Star in England.'