Blues on UEFA agenda over Frisk

Chelsea's role in referee Anders Frisk's resignation will be scrutinised by UEFA's most senior figures at a meeting of the European governing body's executive committee next month.

Frisk announced his retirement following death threats from Chelsea fans - made after allegations about the Swedish referee by Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho - and the saga has sparked unprecedented fury among the UEFA top brass.

The issue is now set to be added to the agenda for the executive committee meeting in Tallinn, Estonia, on April 19 and 20 as an emergency item and will include possible measures to protect referees.

UEFA treasurer Dr Mathieu Sprengers said: "We will certainly discuss it at the next executive committee meeting - it is a very serious matter when referees are threatened to such an extent that they give up the job.

"Coaches must also understand that the sort of people who make these threats - people who are no better than terrorists - can be stimulated by their remarks about referees.

"We must examine all the circumstances to see what can be done."

Chelsea are refusing to apologise or back down over the Frisk affair, or to withdraw their allegation that Frisk met Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard in the referee's room during the Champions League first leg in the Nou Camp.

Both Frisk and Rijkaard deny such a meeting took place, and now the fourth official at the game Martin Ingvarsson has accused Mourinho of hounding the referee out of football.

Ingvarsson said: "What Chelsea are saying is a lie. No one came into our dressing room and I don't know why they are saying it. I saw what happened.

"There was no chat between Anders Frisk and Frank Rijkaard. They shook hands in the tunnel before the game not at half-time.

"They were together for a maximum of two seconds. There was no chat between them. I don't even know if they know each other that well."

Meanwhile UEFA referees chief Volker Roth has rejected Mourinho's demand to apologise for calling the Chelsea manager "an enemy of football."

He said: "I have heard Mourinho wants to sue me. I'm looking forward to that."

Chelsea can expect to be fined by UEFA's disciplinary next week for not attending the post-match press conference at the Nou Camp and for coming on to the pitch late after half-time.

UEFA may also take individual disciplinary action against Mourinho himself -something they did with Alex Ferguson two years ago when the Manchester United manager suggested the Champions League draw may have been fixed.

What is certain is that UEFA are furious with Roman Abramovich's club, so much so even that UEFA executives have not returned calls to Chelsea officials who have wanted to try to repair relations.