John Terry must answer an FA charge of improper conduct after being accused of questioning Graham Poll’s integrity. The Chelsea captain was sent off by Poll in the defeat by Tottenham Hotspur last month and later accused the official of changing his story.

Terry told Chelsea TV that Poll had originally claimed that the second yellow card was shown for a barge on Hossam Ghaly. “Then, after the game he said to me that it was for the fall when me and Ledley King fell so he’s obviously had a look at it, or got people to look at it, and decided that’s probably the best option for him,” the England captain said.

Poll has denied that accusation and has been backed up by the other officials at the game, who were in radio communication and able to hear all exchanges between referee and players. Poll has also been cleared by the FA of saying “anything inappropriate” towards Chelsea players, during the same match, regarding their discipline. The referee had been accused by Ashley Cole of questioning Chelsea’s behaviour and even suggesting on the pitch that Chelsea “needed to be taught a lesson”. Those claims were not backed up when the FA made further investigations.

The situation is embarrassing to the FA because, if Terry is found guilty and fined — the likely outcome — the governing body would effectively be questioning the veracity of the England captain.

José Mourinho, the Chelsea manager, has also escaped punishment for his post-match comments about Poll on an afternoon when the Tring official booked six Chelsea players, sent off Terry and disallowed a “goal” by Didier Drogba. Mourinho was “reminded of his responsibilities”.

Meanwhile, sympathy for Andriy Shevchenko, the Ukraine forward, at Chelsea is probably extended when certain comparisons are made with Arjen Robben. The Holland winger is hugely gifted but mentally fragile, a reputation further cemented when he was withdrawn from Wednesday’s 1-0 victory away to Bolton Wanderers with a minor thigh strain.

Robben only likes to play when he feels 100 per cent, a stance not always popular with his more robust team-mates, and it explained his absence at the Reebok Stadium. But there was an upside for Shevchenko, who kept his place after a poor performance away to Manchester United three days earlier and, while he is not yet close to justifying his £30.8 million transfer fee, he was better in terms of his movement and pace.

Afterwards, the forward dismissed speculation that he might be considering his options, including a possible move back to AC Milan. “I give 100 per cent all the time and I am committed and hungry for success with Chelsea,” he told the club’s official website. “I have total respect for the Chelsea club and fans as well as for football in England.”

Mourinho once again, came out strongly in support of his forward. “I don’t care about goals,” Mourinho said. “I judge performance on other items and I saw an evolution in him. It is not easy to adapt and the most difficult position to play is striker.

“If Chelsea are three points off the top of the Premiership, top of our Champions League group and in the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup and have not had the best of Shevchenko, then I am waiting for the future when we do.”