BLATTER - UEFA CAN CHARGE ESSIEN
FIFA president Sepp Blatter has given UEFA the green light to take disciplinary action against Michael Essien for the Chelsea midfielder's shocking foul on Liverpool's Dietmar Hamann.
Essien's knee-high challenge was missed by German referee Herbert Fandel but Blatter confirmed that under the rules of the game UEFA could use video evidence to bring charges against the Chelsea player.
Blatter told a news conference in Leipzig: "In 1994 the FIFA executive committee took a decision that the disciplinary committee can use television evidence in the case of infractions against the laws of the game that have not been identified by the referee.
"As this happened in a Champions League game it is up to UEFA to decide whether to review video evidence."
In October, Essien escaped any further disciplinary action following another dangerous tackle on Bolton defender Tal Ben Haim despite referee Rob Styles, after reviewing TV footage, wanting to upgrade the yellow card he awarded to red.
The Football Association consulted FIFA and were told that the decision could not be reversed.
Blatter appeared to contradict that on Wednesday by saying "if it was a blatant red card and only a yellow card was given the disciplinary body can transfer it", but FIFA communications director Markus Siegler later clarified the rules.
Siegler said: "You cannot upgrade or downgrade one card to another but you can take action if the referee has not seen an incident."
UEFA are waiting for reports from referee Frandel and match delegate Indrek Kannik of Spain before deciding whether to take action.
Hamann has claimed no-one at Chelsea has apologised for the horror tackle - and admitted he was astonished no official even saw it.
The 32-year-old, who has already condemned the tackle as the "worst I have suffered in my career" said: "The referee blew the whistle just a second beforehand for something else, but how when they have four 'referees' around the pitch these days did nobody see what happened?
"I thought they were trying to stop things like that happening in the game.
"You certainly don't want to see things like that and a few of the lads were pretty angry. But you have to get on with it these days and get over it. You must concentrate on the game."
But as he left the stadium bound for the airport and the flight back to Merseyside, Hamann was asked whether there had been any apology from Essien. The answer was 'No'.
He said: "Nobody from Chelsea has said anything to me and Essien hasn't apologised or anything like that."
Hamann added: "It was the worst tackle I have ever been subjected to. I really feared I may have broken my leg, but thankfully it is only bad bruising.
"But when something like that happens you just have to get up and get on with the game. If you allow yourself to be disturbed by what has happened it might put you off the game and that is the last thing you want.
"It's finished as far as I'm concerned. It's not for me to say whether it was a booking or a red card, for me it's finished."
And it is unlikely UEFA will act, although referee Herbert Fandel could find himself in hot water.
Meanwhile Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho was quick to accuse Liverpool of "crying" about decisions throughout the game.
He said: "I was telling the Liverpool bench that they were crying all the game. They needed to sit down a little bit and relax.
"With me referees are always very strong and quick to put me in my place. But other managers can do what they want.
"For example, if Jose Mourinho had done what Stuart Pearce did against Blackburn, it would have been a three-month ban for me."
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez was furious with the challenge and said: "I could see the tackle because it happened right in front of the bench. I could see the leg of Didi Hamann.
"It is clear and and you can see the video. I have my opinions and I would prefer to keep them to myself."
Referee Fandel's failure to spot and punish Essien's tackle resulted in a string of acts of retribution from both sides, with Mohamed Sissoko involved in one incident and substitute Harry Kewell ending the game with blood pouring from a cut ankle after a William Gallas tackle.
The match action saw Jose Reina make a fine save to keep out a fierce drive from the hugely impressive Frank Lampard while Peter Cech was equally outstanding to block a John Arne Riise drive with his legs.
But the game slowly ground down towards the inevitable draw, with Liverpool clearly intent on winning the group and making sure they avoided the likes of AC Milan, Lyon, Inter Milan and Arsenal in the next stage.
Liverpool have also now gone nine matches unbeaten without conceding a goal - that's 13 hours and 30 minutes since Reina saw the ball nestle in the net behind him.
