Chelsea Football Club Statement

Chelsea Football Club would like to officially distance ourselves from comments in the media this morning regarding the reasons behind any criticism Avram Grant may or may not have received since he became our manager in September.

Chelsea FC is totally committed to fighting all forms of discrimination and prejudice and will act in the strongest possible way, given the evidence, against anyone who uses anti-semitism or any other form of discrimination in any shape or form.

Our manager has conducted himself with great dignity and respect in his role as Chelsea manager. Last week he made a moving speech at Auschwitz on Holocaust Remembrance Day. In it he promoted the power of sport in bringing all people together regardless of race and religion and its ability to break down barriers. That is a sentiment Chelsea agrees with entirely.