Chelsea Are The Benchmark For Bad PR
Timing is paramount to many things, be it as a comedian on stage or a footballer sliding in for a tackle. In the last few weeks Chelsea FC's timing has been decisive, but for now that seems to be as good as it gets for a club that can't escape controversy.
The year 2012 will go down as one of the most memorable in the history of Chelsea, and by and large the memories will be positive. In the future, fans of the club will understandably speak of their Champions League triumph and the added bonus of an FA Cup, nothing else will matter.
In terms of success it is very hard to argue against that. The record books for sport never indulge too much in the overall context; the results are the endgame after all. Some fans will argue that Chelsea were 'lucky' to win the Champions League, and whilst we may understand their point of view- this is an argument that is ultimately flawed.
The genuine cases of sporting success being tarnished are comparatively few and far between. They are the ones that stick out, like Lance Armstrong and drugs, or Roy Jones Jr and dodgy officiating (at the 1988 Olympics). Still, 2012 should not be viewed as complete glory for Chelsea, it has been a year of regret as well.
The year started with John Terry and his impending trial for alleged use of racist language. The fall out from this was far reaching and badly handled, with Terry being stripped of the England captaincy and then Capello subsequently resigning as manager of the national team.
Almost exactly one month later, André Villas-Boas was sacked less than nine months into his much-heralded, revolutionary tenure as Chelsea boss. His assistant Roberto di Matteo was handed control on a temporary basis, and until the end of the season he guided the club on an improbable journey to their cup double.
So, in the midst of a tumultuous year, Chelsea found their way to arguably their greatest season. Abramovich finally had his hands on a European Cup, and not even he could then justify ousting di Matteo. Not at this point anyway.
John Terry was acquitted at his criminal trial in July but then charged by the FA, and in September they found him guilty. A move that was probably an effort to placate the continued ill-feeling over the case, and to address Justice Riddle's opinion- that there was a lack of evidence to prove beyond a doubt that Terry had used his words as an insult instead of a challenge to what he believed had been said to him.
Roll on to October of this season, and Chelsea had reached a point of relative stability. Terry had since retired from England duty, thus ending that chapter, and on the pitch Chelsea had made a promising start to the campaign. Prior to the Champions League clash with Shakhtar Donetsk on October 23rd, the club were on a six match winning streak.
However, that all ended in the Ukraine with a 2-1 defeat. And the next fixture saw the beginning of the end for di Matteo. A 3-2 home loss to Manchester United (their first in the league) was overshadowed by perhaps the most controversial incident in Chelsea's year.
That same evening allegations started to seep out that the referee Mark Clattenburg had used 'inappropriate and racist language' against two Chelsea players. These were suspected to be Juan Mata and Jon Obi Mikel, although due to a lack of evidence an official complaint was only made regarding Mikel.
This issue has run and run. A police investigation was launched and then on November 13th it was dropped, again due to lack of evidence (or victims coming forward). Following the FA's investigation, Clattenburg was cleared on November 22nd. On the same day they charged Mikel with the use of threatening/abusive/insulting words and behaviour around the referee's changing room, following that match.
All of which has contributed to a very sorry time for football in this country, where race issues are once again rearing their ugly head. The issue with Clattenburg has been accepted by Chelsea, but there is little reconciliation going on between the two parties. Instead there is an air of distrust and an uncomfortable after taste, was there ever any truth in the accusations, or have the FA failed on a racism issue once again?
Either way, Chelsea's reputation has taken a further battering with this association. Even though they were right to make their complaints, there is a feeling that they mishandled the way that they did it. Meanwhile the witness to the allegations, Ramires, continues to insist that Clattenburg was indeed racist.
Whilst all this was going on in the public sphere, Chelsea were beginning to unravel. Two wins came in the next six fixtures following their loss to Manchester United, and on Tuesday last week they were soundly beaten by Juventus in Turin. Thus remains the prospect of Chelsea becoming the first Champions League holders to be knocked out of the group stage in their defence of it.
Within hours of that result came the chop for di Matteo, an incredibly eventful (and successful) eight months had finished. Abramovich was making it clear for any doubters, he was not a fan of the manager and winning what he did only allowed him minimal respite.
Now Rafael BenÃtez has the return to management he so desired, at least until Pep Guardiola makes a decision on his future. Meanwhile, the Chelsea fans voiced their utmost displeasure at having Rafa as interim boss during Sunday's 0-0 with Manchester City.
After a quite incredible 12 months of soaring highs and crashing lows at Stamford Bridge, it appears that the only guarantee at this club is that there are almost none. Except perhaps for the fact that Abramovich will do what he likes, and that Chelsea FC have a fearsome siege mentality.
The year 2012 will go down as one of the most memorable in the history of Chelsea, and by and large the memories will be positive. In the future, fans of the club will understandably speak of their Champions League triumph and the added bonus of an FA Cup, nothing else will matter.
In terms of success it is very hard to argue against that. The record books for sport never indulge too much in the overall context; the results are the endgame after all. Some fans will argue that Chelsea were 'lucky' to win the Champions League, and whilst we may understand their point of view- this is an argument that is ultimately flawed.
The genuine cases of sporting success being tarnished are comparatively few and far between. They are the ones that stick out, like Lance Armstrong and drugs, or Roy Jones Jr and dodgy officiating (at the 1988 Olympics). Still, 2012 should not be viewed as complete glory for Chelsea, it has been a year of regret as well.
The year started with John Terry and his impending trial for alleged use of racist language. The fall out from this was far reaching and badly handled, with Terry being stripped of the England captaincy and then Capello subsequently resigning as manager of the national team.
Almost exactly one month later, André Villas-Boas was sacked less than nine months into his much-heralded, revolutionary tenure as Chelsea boss. His assistant Roberto di Matteo was handed control on a temporary basis, and until the end of the season he guided the club on an improbable journey to their cup double.
So, in the midst of a tumultuous year, Chelsea found their way to arguably their greatest season. Abramovich finally had his hands on a European Cup, and not even he could then justify ousting di Matteo. Not at this point anyway.
John Terry was acquitted at his criminal trial in July but then charged by the FA, and in September they found him guilty. A move that was probably an effort to placate the continued ill-feeling over the case, and to address Justice Riddle's opinion- that there was a lack of evidence to prove beyond a doubt that Terry had used his words as an insult instead of a challenge to what he believed had been said to him.
Roll on to October of this season, and Chelsea had reached a point of relative stability. Terry had since retired from England duty, thus ending that chapter, and on the pitch Chelsea had made a promising start to the campaign. Prior to the Champions League clash with Shakhtar Donetsk on October 23rd, the club were on a six match winning streak.
However, that all ended in the Ukraine with a 2-1 defeat. And the next fixture saw the beginning of the end for di Matteo. A 3-2 home loss to Manchester United (their first in the league) was overshadowed by perhaps the most controversial incident in Chelsea's year.
That same evening allegations started to seep out that the referee Mark Clattenburg had used 'inappropriate and racist language' against two Chelsea players. These were suspected to be Juan Mata and Jon Obi Mikel, although due to a lack of evidence an official complaint was only made regarding Mikel.
This issue has run and run. A police investigation was launched and then on November 13th it was dropped, again due to lack of evidence (or victims coming forward). Following the FA's investigation, Clattenburg was cleared on November 22nd. On the same day they charged Mikel with the use of threatening/abusive/insulting words and behaviour around the referee's changing room, following that match.
All of which has contributed to a very sorry time for football in this country, where race issues are once again rearing their ugly head. The issue with Clattenburg has been accepted by Chelsea, but there is little reconciliation going on between the two parties. Instead there is an air of distrust and an uncomfortable after taste, was there ever any truth in the accusations, or have the FA failed on a racism issue once again?
Either way, Chelsea's reputation has taken a further battering with this association. Even though they were right to make their complaints, there is a feeling that they mishandled the way that they did it. Meanwhile the witness to the allegations, Ramires, continues to insist that Clattenburg was indeed racist.
Whilst all this was going on in the public sphere, Chelsea were beginning to unravel. Two wins came in the next six fixtures following their loss to Manchester United, and on Tuesday last week they were soundly beaten by Juventus in Turin. Thus remains the prospect of Chelsea becoming the first Champions League holders to be knocked out of the group stage in their defence of it.
Within hours of that result came the chop for di Matteo, an incredibly eventful (and successful) eight months had finished. Abramovich was making it clear for any doubters, he was not a fan of the manager and winning what he did only allowed him minimal respite.
Now Rafael BenÃtez has the return to management he so desired, at least until Pep Guardiola makes a decision on his future. Meanwhile, the Chelsea fans voiced their utmost displeasure at having Rafa as interim boss during Sunday's 0-0 with Manchester City.
After a quite incredible 12 months of soaring highs and crashing lows at Stamford Bridge, it appears that the only guarantee at this club is that there are almost none. Except perhaps for the fact that Abramovich will do what he likes, and that Chelsea FC have a fearsome siege mentality.
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