Four Chelsea players have been fined after a drinking binge in a hotel packed with American tourists grieving over the US terror attacks. Frank Lampard, Jody Morris, John Terry, Eidur Gudjohnsen and former Chelsea defender Frank Sinclair went for drinks after that night's UEFA Cup game against Bulgarian team Levski Sofia was called off as a mark of respect for victims of the attacks. Each player has been fined two weeks' wages. The money raised – over £100,000 - will be donated to the fund helping families of the victims of the US attacks.
The hotel near Heathrow Airport was full with Americans stranded by flight cancellations. "They were causing lots of noise and knocking things over in the bar and upsetting everyone. They were really drunk," said Posthouse Hotel manager Antonio Parisini. The players later moved on to the nearby Airport Bowl bowling alley, where they started diving down the lanes head first.
Chelsea managing director Colin Hutchinson has apologised for the players' behaviour. "They were categorical that in no way had they intended to insult any individuals and they said that they certainly didn't abuse anyone. They were loud between themselves but they, like everyone at the club, have been as hurt and moved by what has happened in the United States as anyone else. Their behaviour was totally out of order but there is no way that the players went out, in any shape or form, to insult or abuse anyone," said Hutchinson.
Filed by Greg McKevitt
