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Chelsea's new interim manager Rafael Benitez
Chelsea's interim manager, Rafael Benítez, is still expecting to take them to their first Club World Cup tournament. Photograph: Luke Macgregor/Reuters
Chelsea's interim manager, Rafael Benítez, is still expecting to take them to their first Club World Cup tournament. Photograph: Luke Macgregor/Reuters

Chelsea await Fifa guidance over Club World Cup after Japan earthquake

This article is more than 11 years old
Squad due to fly to Tokyo on Saturday evening
Terry ruled out of tournament with knee injury

Chelsea are awaiting advice from Fifa over travelling to Tokyo for the Club World Cup after an earthquake off the coast of Japan on Friday.

The European champions are due to travel on Saturday evening after their Premier League game at Sunderland, but are understood to be waiting for confirmation from football's governing body after a strong earthquake centred off the coast of north-eastern Japan shook buildings as far away as Tokyo on Friday and triggered a one-metre tsunami in an area devastated by last year's Fukushima disaster.

The quake had a preliminary magnitude of 7.3, the US Geological Survey said, adding that there was no risk of a widespread tsunami. There were no immediate reports of death or injury.

Chelsea are due to face the Mexican side Monterrey or the South Korean team Ulsan Hyundai in a semi-final in Yokohama on Thursday 13 December, with the final to take place at the same venue three days later.

The tournament opened on Thursday with the Japanese side Sanfrecce Hiroshima defeating New Zealand's Auckland City 1-0 in the first quarter-final.

In March 2011 an earthquake and following tsunami killed nearly 20,000 people and triggered the world's worst nuclear crisis in 25 years when the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant was destroyed, leaking radiation into the sea and air.

The interim Chelsea manager, Rafael Benítez, has confirmed that the club captain, John Terry, has not recovered from his knee injury in time to join the squad for the Club World Cup.

Terry has been advised against travelling to Japan for the tournament as he continues his recovery from the ligament damage sustained against Liverpool last month.

"We've been talking with the doctor. The inflammation during the flight will not be the best thing for him so he will not travel," said Benítez.

"He wanted to go and to help, but it's better that he stays here. We don't know when he will play. We have to wait and see how he reacts."

Benítez also confirmed that Frank Lampard is expected to play some part in Saturday's game at Sunderland and will fly to Japan after recovering from his calf problem.

However, Daniel Sturridge's hamstring injury will prevent him from participating at the Stadium of Light, but the Club World Cup is a realistic target.

"Sturridge has been training but it's too early for him so he will not go to Sunderland. We will fly to Japan from Sunderland and we'll see if he can do something in Japan," said Benítez.

"Frank Lampard has been training and will be in the squad for Sunderland and if everything is fine he will fly to Japan too. At least one important player is back because we need character, experience and numbers. Frank is a very experienced player so this is quite positive.

"At the moment we have a good team but we needed players with more experience. He can have an impact. He scores goals and understands the game. I'm disappointed for the other two, but at least with Frank we have one more body."

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