Reading's Official Statement

[rfc_prem2006]

http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/pa ... 19,00.html

Well said Reading

also on SSN Brian Barwick i think it was, was also defending Hunt.

sorry wasn't Barwick it was Gordon Taylor earlier!

[readingbedding]

Good.

[M4 Junction 11]

A professional response to the Chelsea media hysteria. Well done Reading FC.

[Ian Royal]

can't see it at work, can I have a summary?

[URZ_forever]

can't see it at work, can I have a summary?

Reading Football Club has strongly defended Stephen Hunt following allegations that he deliberately injured Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech during Saturday's game at Madejski Stadium.

We reiterate Steve Coppell and Stephen Hunt's post-match comments that there was absolutely no intent to injure Petr. We firmly believe that the collision was an unavoidable accident, a view which is supported virtually without exception by independent media observers.

We respect the right of Chelsea Football Club to ask the Football Association to review the incident, and we would fully co-operate with any inquiry that may take place. We have nothing to hide and believe that all the evidence fully vindicates Stephen Hunt.

We would also like to send our sincere wishes to Petr Cech for a full and speedy recovery.

Manager Steve Coppell said, "We support Stephen 100%. He is a fair and honest player, and anybody who knows him would agree that he is not the kind of person to hurt Petr Cech on purpose. We hope Petr makes a full recovery and is back playing soon."

Stephen Hunt said, "I can guarantee that I did not attempt to injure Petr, and I am very upset that the collision has resulted in such a bad injury.

"When Petr slid in to collect the ball, our momentum meant that a collision was unavoidable. I think the TV pictures show that the collision was a complete accident, and I'd like to think that my team mates and opponents throughout my career in football would say that I'm not the kind of person to deliberately hurt an opponent.

"Serious injury is the worst part of football and I feel terribly sorry for Petr. I have written to him to wish him a full recovery."

[Ian Royal]

Many thanks.

In a few days when all the bile dries up I think RFC will come out of this looking like the clean club we are.

[rotherwick_royal]

See here for a less than balanced viewpoint from the official Chelsea website...

http://www.chelseafc.com/article.asp?hl ... s&nav=news

[who are ya?]

I think it's safe to say from that article, that Neil Barnett is an utter oxf*rd.

[readingbedding]

Of course it looks bad at that angle.
His biased journalism falls short of what was the issue here.

The knock onto Hunt's leg by Cech that caused the collision in the first place.

[readingfc_4_life_and_beyo]

See here for a less than balanced viewpoint from the official Chelsea website...

http://www.chelseafc.com/article.asp?hl ... s&nav=news

1. Can two serious head injuries in one game to goalkeepers be a coincidence?
Yes, it was very coincidential. How could you say that it wasn't? Both were unavoidable accidents. One a freak injury that looked a hell of a lot lighter than it ended up and one where the keeper came out, caught the ball, and Sonko gave up on it and ran past, but the keeper had his head down which meant Sonko ran into his head, shame.

2. Shouldn’t footballers exercise a duty of care towards fellow professionals and was this practised at Reading on Saturday?
Yes, and yes. Top of the fair play league for no reason? I think not.

3. Would those challenges which injured the Chelsea goalkeepers have been acceptable overseas — in other words were they old fashioned ‘English’ challenges which the world game has long found unacceptable?
Who cares about over seas? It doesn't affect the FA Premier League in hardly any way. How is this on topic? Stupidest point this bloke will make, i'm sure.

4. Would they have been fouls in any other part of the pitch?
Probably. The keeper is only allowed to handle the ball in his area

[who goes there!]

I think it's safe to say from that article, that Neil Barnett is an utter oxf*rd.

Too right!

[1947royal]

What bloody game did that guy watch.What he said infuriates me,but it infuriates me much more is what he diliberately did not mention.Chelsea have more divers than a swimming gala.Did he not see all that or chose to ignore it.

[Kurtz]

A good, measured response from the club.
Let others continue to rant on and on if they like but RFC's statement says what needs to be said and draws a line under it as far as the club are concerned. Time to move on and focus on Sunday.

[who are ya?]

It's even more of a shame because before this game I liked Chelsea, at the moment though, I'm finding it hard to keep the respect I had for them.
Not that I now hate them or anything, just have lost alot of respect.

[Alan Partridge]

Sonko had committed himself to the ball, if Cudicini had missed that ball, Sonks heads it in the net, it was an unfortunate collision but is part and parcel of being a goalkeeper, Barnett has no idea about football for blaming Sonks. What does he expect our forwards to do at corners, satand with their arms behind their backs and just let Chelsea deal with it? Maybe that's what you want to happen, but it's time to get real.

Funny apart from 'poor old Chelsea' and Warnock who already can't stand us anyway everyone else who is actually impartial is clearing both players.

What's also funny is if it had been our keepers NOTHING would have been said.

[noise]

But who would have taken goal if Hahnemann and Stack get injured?

[readingfc_4_life_and_beyo]

But who would have taken goal if Hahnemann and Stack get injured?

Superman

[who are ya?]

Kevin Dillon.

[handbags_harris]

Reading Fans Everywhere.

[Ian Royal]

Reading Fans Everywhere.

Hunt.