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Coach Avram Grant received Anti-Semitic death threats in a package containing a white powder. The letter claimed the powder to be lethal but tests confirmed it was harmless. The police are trying to identify the source. The matter shouldn't be given much importance if this is a one-off incident. But since the Club confirmed later that the coach has received such letters before, this kind of racist remarks confirm the continued existence of anti-Semitic elements in English football. I believe that the time may have come to launch a movement to kick anti-Semitism out of football, like the 'Kick Racism out of Football' campaign.
More related news - TimesOnline, Reuters, Telegraph.

With Chelsea backing Richard Scudamore's 'Game 39', the big-four clubs are split over the project. Manchester United and Liverpool had earlier expressed their doubts over the plan. I personally feel the 39th game would do more good to the clubs' finances than to the development of football. The EPL would lose its soul and also cause lots of damage to other domestic leagues. Even FIFA Chief Sepp Blatter has voiced his disapproval.

Chelsea midfielder Lampard has urged Grant to find a settled starting XI. The midfielder, frustrated at being left out for the Champions League tie at Olympiakos on Tuesday, is determined to be a part of that team. With Sir Alex Ferguson also saying that he may go for 'rotation policy', it remains to be seen if Grant goes for a settled XI or 'rotation'. Anyway he will soon be having lots of selection problems, with almost everyone in the team available for selection now.

Paulo Ferreira signs on at Stamford Bridge until 2013. The defender was among Jose Mourinho's first signings in the summer of 2004 after following his boss from Porto to Stamford Bridge in a £13 million transfer. The defender said he is happy to commit his future to the club. With the signing of Juliano Belletti last summer Ferreira has got very less first team starts. Anyway he is back from hi ankle injury and will be looking forward to be in Grant's plans.

Coach Grant feels Olympiakos is still a danger even though Chelsea now has the advantage of playing the return leg at home. And what I feel hearing this is that our coach is just trying to be modest here. If Chelsea feels the Greek champions are really a threat to them at home, maybe we should forget about lifting the Champions League. But the match at Athens proved once again that against stiffer opposition we failed to control, dominate and win.

Meanwhile Chelsea FC just got more popular with its fans from the UAE as the CFC Soccer Schools hit the Zayed Sports City Stadium in the capital yesterday for the start of a four-day coaching clinic. Such efforts will go a long way in developing the local talent and lets hope the club starts establishing more academies to harness young footballing talents. Here's the article...