Bates reports Chelsea

Leeds United chairman Ken Bates has called for Chelsea to have points deducted or be banned from playing in Europe after reporting the Premiership champions to the Football Association for allegedly poaching two young players. The former Blues chairman has accused the men from Stamford Bridge of making alleged illegal approaches to three former Leeds academy players, Tom Taiwo, Michael Woods and Daniel Rose last summer. Woods and Taiwo moved to Chelsea towards the end of last season, and Rose stayed with Leeds. Bates, who has stated that he would also be making an official complaint to disciplinary chiefs of both Fifa and Uefa, said: 'We want to be compensated for the amount of work that has been put into developing the players. 'Recently Chelsea have been involved in another squabble with another player, this time with Manchester United (John Obi Mikel) and they had to pay £16 million for that. That puts the £200,000 they have offered us in perspective.' The Football Association has yet to receive an official complaint from Leeds with a spokesman saying: 'We have had communication from Leeds United on this subject but as yet no formal complaint. If this was received, we would give it due consideration.' As the two clubs are not involved are not in the same division, any official complaint would come under the FA's jurisdiction - rather than the Premier League or Football League. Bates, who made a reported £17 million profit when selling Chelsea to Russian billionaire Abramovich in 2003, added: 'There is no personal vendetta between (Chelsea chairman) Bruce Buck or (owner) Mr (Roman) Abramovich and myself or Leeds or Chelsea. 'This is a straightforward dispute over the blatant breaching of Football League rules regarding to players which, of course, is consistent with other examples of Chelsea's illegal approaches to players. 'The most popular one, of course, is the Ashley Cole - one where they are fined and had three points deducted (suspended). 'As of today we have reported Chelsea to the Football Association regarding the alleged tapping-up of three of our young players, Michael Woods, Tom Taiwo and Daniel Rose. 'Woods and Taiwo are now registered as scholars at Chelsea, and Rose is staying at Leeds.' Bates also confirmed that in addition Leeds are taking separate legal action against former academy staff member Gary Worthington for his claimed part in the youngsters' defection to Chelsea. Worthington spent five years at Leeds before leaving in July 2005 and taking up a similar post with Chelsea soon afterwards. Leeds offered scholarship terms to all three youngsters in September last year, with Woods and Taiwo turning them down.

ITN | August 2, 2006

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