Chelsea sack midfieder Jacob Mellis after he set off smoke grenade at club’s Cobham training ground
Chelsea have kicked midfielder Jacob Mellis out of the club after he admitted setting off a smoke grenade at their training ground.
Chelsea confirmed they and 21-year-old Mellis, who has played for the first team, had “parted company” following a “full and thorough” investigation into the incident which took place on March 2.
Team-mate Billy Clifford escaped with a fine after admitting he brought the grenade – understood to be from a paintball expedition – into Chelsea’s Cobham training headquarters.
Clifford, 19, is a regular in Chelsea’s reserves and signed a new four-year deal last summer.
Mellis, 21, joined from Sheffield United five years ago and made his debut in the Champions League win against Zilina in Nov 2010.
According to reports, the smoke grenade was set off in the reserve-team dressing room and trained fire marshals had to be brought in.