Chelsea have hit back in their battle with Ken Bates, their former chairman, by accusing the Leeds chief of racial discrimination.
The London club have lodged a formal complaint with the Football Association about the words used by Bates to describe the Blues board when he accused them of trying to poach three of his club’s Academy players.
In a statement released today, the Barclays Premiership champions also accuse Bates of waging a personal campaign against the club he sold to Roman Abramovich three years ago.
The FA have confirmed they have received the complaint today and are looking into it.
Chelsea’s statement said: “Chelsea today filed a complaint with the Football Association against Ken Bates and Leeds United for bringing the game into disrepute.
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“This follows recent comments by Mr Bates arising out of the dispute between Chelsea FC and Leeds over Michael Woods, Tom Taiwo and Danny Rose.
“There are football procedures in place to deal with that specific dispute.
“Chelsea will comply with those, will not discuss the case publicly other than our previously stated position and will contest it vigorously.
“However there are also existing football rules (E3 and E4) that prohibit rude, insulting and inappropriate comments being made about other club owners, chairmen and personnel.
“In particular we are concerned by the implications of Mr Bates’ reference to the Chelsea directors... and the discriminatory nature of this in terms of race, nationality and religion (rule E4).
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“Such comments have no place in football, a sport which is rightly committed to fighting racial intolerance and bigotry.
“Chelsea believe these comments are part of a personal campaign being waged by Mr Bates against our club and his actions cannot be allowed to masquerade erroneously as being in the interests of football as he claims.”
The FA and Premier League are currently investigating the complaint from Leeds that Chelsea made illegal approaches for teenage players Woods, Taiwo and Rose.
Woods and Taiwo, both 16, both moved to Chelsea last season but Rose decided to stay at Elland Road.
The FA rules E3 and E4, referred to in the statement from Chelsea, concern insulting words and behaviour, including racial and religious discrimination.
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Rule E3 states: “A participant shall at all times act in the best interests of the game and shall not act in any manner which is improper or brings the game into disrepute or use any one, or a combination of, violent conduct, serious foul play, threatening, abusive, indecent or insulting words or behaviour.”
Rule E4 states: “A participant shall not carry out any act which is discriminatory by reason of ethnic origin, colour, race, nationality, religion, sex, sexual orientation or disability.”
A Leeds spokesman said: “We are totally amused and look forward to receiving their [Chelsea Football Club’s] detailed evidence to support their complaint.”