Chelsea will reportedly seek up to a million pounds in compensation from the FA amid claims they believe Frank Lampard's thigh injury was the result of the England team travelling to Doha in economy style.
Lampard pulled up lame in the opening minutes of England's first training session after arriving in the Middle East and is unlikely to play again this year.
According to The Sun, the injury was the consequence of Lampard being 'forced to spend the long-haul flight to Doha on a charter plane designed for short-haul only.
'The superstar players are used to having flat beds for long journeys and were shocked to find seats that barely reclined. Several players complained of cramp and muscle pain after the flight.'
It is not known what type of aeroplane Lampard flew back on to England last night ahead of scans on his injured thigh at Chelsea's training ground.
Your Comments
kevuk
"It's back to the same old story, why were these players traveling half way around the world in the middle of the season to play in a pointless friendly?
I think Chelsea are well with in their rights to put a claim in for compensation, they are not the first team to do it and they wont be the last.
Hope to see you back real soon Frankie "
bikerbaz
"They should hang their heads in shame. I travel economy all over the place and what they are claiming is rubbish. Passengers are not nailed to the seats, they are free to walk around and stretch their legs whenever the need arises. I am sick of hearing the bleating and moaning from people who earn more per week than the rest of us do per year, especially when having flown to Doha to watch the England match (in economy) and see the rubbish performance they gave for that sort of money. Professionals? I have seen more committment in Sunday league matches!! The FA should tell Chelsea to get on their bikes (litarally)."
jbuch65667
"Good on Chelsea I jolly well think they should make a claim if Lampard is going to be unavailable until the New Year its outrageous that the athletes of our national team should fly economy class to the Middle East - The FA should be ashamed of themselves. At least Chelsea's claim will serve as strong reminder to the FA to ensure they use only Ryanair for all future England away fixtures."
scorpiostu
"I rarely comment, I am a 75 year old "Gunner' fan happily now deserted the corrupt England I grew up in and living in a country that does look after its people, DENMARK, but have to say I admire the comments of the above Chelsea fans and their ridicule of our pansy boy 'footballers'. Are they in a real world? Economy class do they know the meaning of the word economy? Our applauded soldiers in these obscene wars, Afghanistan, Iraq etc have always had to put up with economy equipment, whilst footballers, tennis players, corrupt politicians and overated Bankers enjoy the luxuories of taxpayers money, and fans money! Good on you Chelsea fans and do it verbally at the next Stamford Bridge game, make em feel ashamed! "
sentry57
"What a load of rubbish. He is young and fit and should be abale to cope with flights of any distance. He is just making a fuss because he didn`t have the first class luxury that footballers are pampered with"
AFC22
"Poor Boy, ive got an aidea, lets set up an exec jet and send him to Afganistan to rest, i'me sure our military medical staff out their will have all the equipment he will need to heal in comfort! This is an absolute disgrace! perhaps Chelsea feel they need an extra bit of money to buy another title, while our lads and lassies are getting killed in order for them to maintain their freedom and safe-keeping!Chelsea and Lampard should hold their collective heads in shame!!!!"
higohugo
"I most certainly agree with all the comments.Lampard and Chelsea fc are a huge embarassment and disgrace to the premier league and british football.They are trying to make make money out of nothing by attempting to extort the FA.They should be thankful that they have been allowed to buy in more players in the jan window.Lampard and his team mates should pay for their own upgrades with all the disgustingly high wages they get and be thankful they do not have to pay for their economy seats too.I am a chelsea fan but this makes me so angry.I am sick of premier footballers being pampered and treated like superstars. They should remember that it is the fans who help to pay for their wages and they are no different to us other than better footballers.Flatbeds indeed,do they want to be read a bedtime story as well? Ruddy pansies,the lot of them!!!"
louie7green
"Well said Dami, people forget how much frank lampard has done for the England team and Chelsea, also how much were gonna miss him against brazil. People are so quick to dig him out but have you actually thought that the story might not be true - You cant believe everything you read in the papers!!!!!!!"
dami2202
"Everyone calm down! This is just a knee jerk reaction. Think of it for a minute- did Lampard WANT to get injured? Of course not, so why is everyone getting on his case. He's an athlete whose body reacted to being in a certain position for too long, so what? As for all the 6ft guys who traveled round the world in economy, i bet if you arrived at your destination and immediately had to get your body in prime optimal condition you'll be even worse off."
marco2210
"these players need to wise up, they mustve known they were travelling economy?? if they werent happy they shouldve upgraded themseves!! i mean whats 2/3k to a player nowadays? and another thing the F.A are making 400k for this game? what the hell is that? 4 players make that in a week, now a players been injured how can the F.A justify this?"
All comments on this story