Mourinho calls on Dein to quit FA

By Mandeep Sanghera

Mourinho (left) believes Dein should not combine his roles

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has called on Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein to resign from the board of the Football Association.

Mourinho claims his club is getting a rough deal from the game's governing bodies compared to the Highbury outfit.

He said: "A person who works in the club should not work in the FA. The FA is the FA and the club is the club."

The Blues boss claims Chelsea often play away games after European weeks, while Arsenal seem to play at home.

He also claims Arsenal get to play on Sundays following Champions League outings, whereas Chelsea are forced to play on Saturdays.

After the six midweek dates allocated to group games for the Champions League:

• Chelsea play five away games and one at home

• Arsenal play five at home and two away

CHELSEA AND ARSENAL'S POST-CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FIXTURES Key: CL=Champions League, Prem=Premiership CL: 13 & 14 Sep Prem: Sat 17 Sep - Ch'ton v CHELSEA Mon 19 Sep - ARSENAL v 'Boro CL: 27 & 28 Sep Prem: Sun 2 Oct - Liverpool v CHELSEA Sun 2 Oct - ARSENAL v B'ham CL: 18 & 19 Oct Prem: Sat 22 Oct - ARSENAL v Man C Sun 23 Oct - Everton v CHELSEA CL: 1 & 2 Nov Prem: Sat 5 Nov - ARSENAL v S'land Sun 6 Nov - Man Utd v CHELSEA CL: 22 & 23 Nov Prem: Sat 26 Nov - ARSENAL v B'burn Sat 26 Nov - Ports'th v CHELSEA CL: 6 & 7 Dec Prem: Sat 10 Dec - N'castle v ARSENAL Sat 10 Dec - CHELSEA v Wigan

"Some are treated as devils, some are treated as angels," Mourinho claimed.

"I don't think we are so ugly as to be treated like devils and I don't think Mr Wenger (Arsene, the Gunners manager) and Mr David Dein and so on are so beautiful to be treated like angels."

He asked journalists: "After Champions League games Chelsea always have to play away from home and Arsenal are always at home. You have nothing to write about that?

"Or is Jose Mourinho the only one who can look at the fixtures and find something very strange?

"By the way, we play against Arsenal on a Sunday (21 August) which is lucky. That's because it is Arsenal.

"After a national team game (Denmark v England on 17 August) we play on a Sunday because we play against Arsenal.

"I am not the most intelligent person in the world but I am not the most stupid and since I came here I understand things and they don't change.

"These are the facts and now you interpret them the way you want to. It is a fact that every time after a Champions League game Chelsea play away in the Premier League and Arsenal play at home."

One of the most sensible comments Mourinho has made - Dein should not be working at the FA From FN Have your say on 606

Despite the fact that Dein works with the FA and not the Premier League, which manages its own fixtures, Mourinho is adamant the Gunners vice-chairman should not combine his roles.

Alluding to fines he has received from the FA, he said: "I think with the money I had to pay them last season, they should sign somebody for that job.

"I have a five-year contract with Chelsea. Maybe in 2009 or 2010 - maybe - Mr Dein won't be in the FA any more and I can have a different season.

"Or maybe Mr Kenyon (Peter, the Chelsea chief executive) will be working in the FA. We don't know. Maybe it will happen in five years."

Dein spent over four years as vice-chairman of the FA before the post was scrapped in August 2004 as part of restructuring.

Dein loses FA role

Asked to respond to Mourinho's allegations, an FA spokesman told BBC Sport: "The representation of the FA board consists of people elected from different areas of the game.

"The Premier League elects a number of representatives to sit on the board to represent their views, of which David Dein is clearly one."

Arsenal refused to comment on the issue, while the Premier League - who draw up fixture lists for the season - confirmed to BBC Sport that midweek Champions League fixtures had no impact on how they allocated weekend fixtures.

"It is down to complete chance," said a Premier League spokesman.