Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari left Goodison Park seething on Monday and refused to talk to the media after captain John Terry was sent off for a one-footed diving lunge on Leon Osman in the 35th minute of the 0-0 draw with Everton.
Scolari’s only reported reaction, according to Setanta TV’s touchline reporter, was to shout, ”Are you afraid? Are you afraid?” at referee Phil Dowd as the pair departed down the tunnel at halftime of the Premier League match.
The Brazilian coach seemed to be questioning whether Dowd had been influenced by the 35 000 home supporters — an issue goalkeeper Petr Cech eluded to later.
”It is hard for the referee to see because he just has a split second and he has the crowd behind with a lot of noise,” Cech said. ”So then it makes it more difficult for the referee. He made a decision and we have to leave it at that.”
Terry now faces a three-match ban, which will rule him out of league matches against West Bromwich Albion and Fulham, and the FA Cup third-round game against third-tier Southend on January 3.
Clearly, Scolari knew he risked Football Association sanctions of his own if he vented his anger publicly.
”None of the Chelsea management is coming up to talk to you,” Chelsea media chief Steve Atkins told reporters.
”The Chelsea management have a number of issues with a number of the decisions during the game and they feel it is better not to say anything that gets them into trouble.”
Chelsea’s Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard and Michael Ballack were also booked for dissent as the Blues squandered a chance to leap above Premier League leader Liverpool in the standings.
But Everton manager David Moyes backed the referee, despite his side being denied a late winner when Steven Pienaar bundled the ball into the net. The midfielder was adjudged to have been offside before stealing the ball out of Cech’s hands.
”My first reaction from the side was that it [Terry’s tackle] was reckless and I thought it was going to be close,” Moyes said. ”In my day, I would have enjoyed a tackle like that but I don’t think you are allowed it now.
”And did he get the decision right leading up to the goal that we scored? Yes he did.”
Everton’s media room has become used to unresponsive Chelsea managers, after a bizarre performance by Avram Grant following the Blues’ 1-0 win at Goodison Park last season in April.
Grant refused to discuss his team’s performance or title chances in the post-match news conference, giving mostly monosyllabic answers.
Grant eventually lost the title to Manchester United — plus his job — and Scolari, who coached Brazil to the 2002 World Cup title, also appears under pressure.
While only one point behind Liverpool, Chelsea has taken just six points from its past five matches. – Sapa-AP