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maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 4 MARCH 2015 20 Sport SPORTTODAY FOOTBALL English Premier League: Reported incidents of racist abuse rise 70% REPORTS to to Kick It Out have risen by more than a third, while English football's governing body has seen an increase of 70 per cent. The FA's head of judicial serv- ices Mark Ives told the Guardian newspaper that the rise is more to do with people being confident enough to report the abuse, rather than an increase in the number of incidents. He said: " It may seem strange to say that it is good to see cases in- crease from 477 last year at grass- roots level to probably 800 this year, but we believe anecdotally the prob- lem itself is not increasing, and that this represents people feeling more confident about reporting abuse." But Kick it Out director Roisin Wood, who described those respon- sible for the discrimination as "a stubborn element", said the number of complaints does not reflect the true scale of the issue. Writing in the Guardian, she said: " The reality is the level of com- plaints submitted to us this season, despite showing a leap from 136 to 184 when compared to the midway point of the 2013-14 campaign, barely scratch the surface of a wide- spread problem." Wood said one of the biggest chal- lenges facing them in dealing with complaints is the high volume of hate crime posts on social media, describing it as "a massive task". The latest figures are revealed as police continue to examine mobile phone footage following reports of racist and abusive behaviour by Chelsea fans on a train from London to Manchester on Sunday night. Four men were asked by police to leave the train at Stoke station. Last month, Chelsea fans were filmed on the Paris Metro shouting racist chants and refusing to allow a black man on to a train carriage before the Champions League game against Paris St Germain. The club suspended five supporters in con- nection with the incident. Another group of fans returning from Paris were heard shouting racist chants at London's St Pancras station. The number of reported incidents of discrimination since the start of the football season has increased, the Football Association and anti-discrimination group Kick It Out said Jose Mourinho guarantees John Terry playing for Chelsea next season THE 34-year-old's current deal expires at the end of the 2014/15 campaign, but Mourinho believes his form means he will be staying at Stamford Bridge. "What I can guarantee is he will be a Chelsea player next season. I can guarantee that," Mourinho said. "No doubts he's going to get his contract. I know what my board tells me. I also know what the play- er tells me." Chelsea policy dictates that play- ers over the age of 30 are offered only 12-month deals. Terry signed his current deal 48 hours after the end of last season - Mourinho's first back at Stamford Bridge - but his next offer could come soon. "It will be before the end of the season, for sure," Mourinho added. Asked if terms had been agreed, but the deal not yet signed, the Blues boss said: "I think it's around that." Mourinho also believes he has time to find Terry's successor in the centre of the Blues defence af- ter helping to revive a career which appeared to be on the downturn under the Portuguese's predecessor Rafael Benitez. "This is a process we can take our time, because John is proving again this season that he's a player for years," Mourinho added. "When I came back (in June 2013) he was coming from a difficult pe- riod, but last season he was very good, this season I think even bet- ter." Terry lifted the Capital One Cup on Sunday following a 2-0 win against Tottenham at Wembley. He now has 13 major trophies for the Blues. It was Mourinho's first trophy of his second spell. Petr Cech played in goal at Wem- bley, despite being displaced as first choice by Thibaut Courtois this term. Mourinho will not stand in Cech's way should he wish to leave at the end of the season. But the Czech Republic goalkeep- er's status means a big fee will be required to prise him from Stam- ford Bridge as his contract does not expire until the end of next season. "He will make his decision," Mourinho said. "He's very mature to make what he feels is the best decision for him and the best decision for his fu- ture. "I will just wait. I would like him very much to stay. "I don't waste my time trying to persuade him, because I know no- body can persuade him. "If he tells me he wants to leave, I will tell him my opinion and my opinion is one of the three best goalkeepers in the world. Huge money." Cech and Terry were key figures when Mourinho followed his first trophy in English football, the 2005 League Cup, with Chelsea's first championship in 50 years. Chelsea resume their bid for a first Premier League title in five years at West Ham on Wednesday, but Mourinho played down the im- pact of having won the first trophy of the season. "I don't think this victory brings us to paradise and everything is now beautiful for us," Mourinho said. "We are just happy, everybody likes to win competitions, but a normal happiness, no more than that." Chelsea have one game in hand after second-placed Manchester City lost at Liverpool on Sunday. Mourinho said: "When our direct opponents lose points, it's good for us. "We have five points advantage, which in this competition is not a lot, because every game is very dif- ficult. "Mathematics plays a role in all of this - 12 matches to go, 36 points to play, 36 minus five (to City), we need 31 points. The next time we get three points, we need 28 points." Chelsea will be hoping for three points at Upton Park on Wednes- day. The Hammers, beaten 2-0 at Stamford Bridge on Boxing Day, have one win in 10 Premier League games, but Mourinho is taking nothing for granted. "They can be everything," he add- ed. "Defensively very strong, which they showed against us a few times. They can also be very dangerous in attack." Mourinho plans to rotate his op- tions but is without midfielders Nemanja Matic (suspended) and John Obi Mikel (knee). Chelsea's League Cup celebra- tions were short and muted, but the players have time off on Thursday and Friday this week ahead of the Champions League last-16 second leg at home to Paris St Germain next Wednesday. "I told them Thursday and Friday are the best moment if they want to do something that people at their age sometimes like to do," Mour- inho said. Jose Mourinho (l) 'guarantees' John Terry will be at Chelsea next season