Essien - I am not a dirty player

Chelsea star Michael Essien has rejected claims he is a dirty player.

The former Lyon midfielder was charged by Uefa for gross unsporting conduct over the tackle in Chelsea's goalless draw with Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday night.

Essien was lucky to escape a sending off after appearing to catch Hamann just around the knee with a high challenge.

It is the not the first time this season that Essien has cited controversy for his tackling after making a dangerous challenge on Bolton's Tal Ben Haim, which also went unpunished.

Essien, who faces a possible three-match European ban for his tackle on Hamann, insists the incident was an accident and that he is not a violent player.

"I am not a violent player. If you look at my career it will confirm that," Essien told The People.

"It was a lunge for the ball, it wasn't a deliberate attempt to get the player.

"I am not someone who goes around trying to break people's legs but football is a man's game that is played with power and force, not ballet.

"I was not trying to injure Hamann and the referee understood that. That is why he didn't punish me as many people are asking that he should have.

"There are always tough challenges on the pitch, but the worst ones are usually the result of bad luck more than anything else.

"I don't think refs will start picking on me because of this. I don't agree with re-refereeing a game after it has happened, it just produces more controversy."