The media have it well in for us and they know they have an easy market of plebeian masses that will only too gratefully lap up any negative stories on Chelsea – I can’t see them stopping but again they have had to apologise (after the damage was done obviously): 

The Mirror apology read as follows: 

“On March 22 we published a story which we claimed to be an exclusive both in the newspaper and on our website stating that Roman Abramovich was drawing up a secret hit list of potential managers and had authorised the sounding out of Turkey boss Fatih Terim.” 

“We now accept that Mr Abramovich had authorised no such approach and nor had he drawn up any secret hit list.” 

“We apologise to Mr Abramovich for the upset and distress caused by the publication of this article.”

   Abramovich lawyers said that:

The story has caused substantial damage to his reputation, and caused him considerable distress and embarrassment.” The Mirror had made no attempt to check the allegations with him, press officers, or Chelsea, or warn him before publication.

The Mirror also failed to apologise to him, or take proper steps to mitigate the damage, and of failing to respond fully to his complaints.

The compensation is reported to be £150,000 from the Daily Mirror publishers but Abramovich is also going to seek aggravated damages as well as also suing over the website version of the story which was not taken off-line until April 28^th. 

To add more icing to the cake Abramovich is further seeking an injunction as well as damages as he believes the invented negative stories about him and Chelsea Football Club will not cease (The Mirror has already had to apologise twice to Shevchenko). 

Probably won’t make that much difference – but maybe certain quarters of the media will think a bit longer before adding fuel to the thirsty anti-Chelsea bandwagon?

View a Printer Friendly version of this Story.

Bookmark or share this story with:

• Digg
• Delicious
• Facebook
• Reddit
• Stumbleupon