Chelsea's Johnterry Accuses Graham Poll of Changing His Story

The spat between Chelsea and Graham Poll continued today with John Terry expressing his "confusion and disappointment" over his red card against Tottenham - and referees' chief Keith Hackett denying Ashley Cole's claims that Poll told Chelsea players: "Your discipline is out of order, you need to be taught a lesson."

Terry, who was sent off for two bookable offences after clashing with the Spurs defender Ledley King - his first red card in 288 games for Chelsea - was adamant that Poll had offered differing accounts for his dismissal.

"On the pitch, Graham Poll said to me [the second yellow card] was for the barge on [Hossam] Ghaly where I kept running," Terry told Chelsea TV. "After the game he said it was for the fall when Ledley King and I fell. I am just really disappointed that it is my first time sent-off for Chelsea.

"The first foul on Dimitar Berbatov was a yellow card, no doubt about it. The second one, I am still really baffled by it. I have looked at it myself over and over again. Ledley [King] and I fell to the floor, we got up, we had words but I used to play Sunday football with him and it was just the pair of us shouting at each other. I walked away. [Pascal] Chimbonda pushed me in the back and I carried on running."

Meanwhile, Hackett has waded into the row too, dismissing outright Cole's claims that Poll singled Chelsea players out for harsh treatment. "I have very serious doubts that one of our most experienced and world-class referees would make that kind of comment," said Hackett. "The player who has made the comments should be aware that the referee, along with his assistant referees, are all 'miked' up.

"My assessor can hear from before kick-off to the end what is being said. If anything untoward was said I will be able to discuss it with Graham's colleagues on the day - and already having talked to one of his colleagues who was listening, it has been flatly denied. I have told Graham not to comment on this matter, because it may be investigated by the football authorities."

Hackett once again called on managers and players not to comment publicly about referees' performances - because he believes procedures are in place to allow them to discuss such matters privately with the officials concerned. "If the manager is unhappy with the referee's performance he can talk to him 30 minutes after the game," he added. "We have very clear communication. I am not happy when a player publicly criticises a referee, because I believe I have put in place the channels to satisfy their frustrations."