Ex-Chelsea boss Peter Kenyon wins damages

The former Chelsea FC chief executive Peter Kenyon has accepted £20,000 damages over a claim he had allowed his judgement to be influenced by a "catfight" involving his girlfriend. Mr Kenyon and Chelsea FC plc brought libel proceedings over a story in the Daily Mail in September 2008.

His counsel, Hugh Tomlinson QC, told Mr Justice Eady it was alleged that "court papers" revealed Mr Kenyon had allowed a decision to dismiss Paul Smith, Chelsea's business affairs director, to be influenced by a "catfight" between their respective girlfriends.

It went on to claim Chelsea had falsely presented Mr Smith's dismissal as management restructuring when the true reason was a personal dispute between Asha Lakhani, Mr Smith's girlfriend, and Louise Quinn, Mr Kenyon's girlfriends. Mr Tomlinson said the allegations were untrue and the Mail had caused considerable distress to the parties involved. Associated Newspapers, owners of the Daily Mail, agreed to pay Mr Kenyon and Chelsea £20,000 in damages and costs.