Soccer-Chelsea write to Premier League over goalkeeper injuries

LONDON, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Chelsea have written to the Premier League (FAPL) and FA regarding their concerns about the medical procedures following injuries to goalkeepers Petr Cech and Carlo Cudicini in a match at Reading earlier this month.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho complained at a news conference last week that it took 30 minutes for an ambulance to take Cech to hospital after his collision with Reading forward Stephen Hunt in the Premier League game on Oct. 14.

Reading said Mourinho's remarks contained "very serious factual inaccuracies" and issued a timeline of events.

After writing to the FAPL and the FA about their concerns Chelsea issued a statement on Monday, which said:

"Chelsea FC want to stress that we have not prejudged the outcome of these issues. But we do believe they warrant further investigation, not just in terms of what happened at Reading, but also to prevent the same questions being raised if similar incidents occur in the future.

Czech Republic goalkeeper Cech, who suffered a fractured skull in the incident and had surgery the day after the game, is likely to be out of action for several months.

Hunt has apologised and denied the challenge was deliberate.

Substitute keeper Cudicini was carried off unconscious later in the game following a mid-air collision with Ibrahima Sonko.

The FA have said they would not take any formal disciplinary action over the injuries.

Chelsea's statement added: "As this was a Premier League match, the FAPL is the relevant authority to address the serious and legitimate questions regarding medical procedures that we have following the injuries to Petr Cech and Carlo Cudicini".

"These have been copied to the FA for their information."

((Reporting by Alison Wildey, editing by Ken Ferris; Reuters Messaging: alison.wildey.reuters.com@reuters.net; +44 20 7542 3321))

Keywords: SPORT SOCCER CHELSEA