FA decides against charging Bates over attack on Chelsea

The Leeds United chairman, Ken Bates, will not be charged with misconduct for derogatory comments about his previous club, Chelsea.

The Premiership champions had lodged an official complaint with the Football Association, accusing Bates of bringing the game into disrepute. The former Blues chairman had branded Chelsea "a bunch of shysters from Siberia", which the London club claimed was a racial slur.

But, after studying the evidence, the FA have said that Bates has no case to answer. Chelsea claimed last month's comment was an attack on the race, religion and nationality of their Russian billionaire owner, Roman Abramovich, who is Jewish.

However, Bates dismissed their interpretation, saying: "Me - anti-Semitic? Thirty years ago when living in Ireland, I rang the leader of the local Jewish community and offered £5,000 - a lot of money in those days - in their hour of need."

His war of words with the club he sold to Abramovich three years ago began when Leeds accused Chelsea of trying to poach three of their academy youngsters.

Tom Taiwo and Michael Woods, both 16, left Elland Road for London but a third youngster - Danny Rose - stayed in Yorkshire.

The FA and Premier League are currently investigating allegations that Chelsea approached all three illegally last season.