Leeds chairman Ken Bates has escaped a misconduct charge for his
derogatory comments about former club Chelsea.
The Premiership champions lodged an official complaint with the
Football Association accusing Bates of bringing the game into
disrepute.
The former Blues supremo branded Chelsea 'a bunch of shysters from Siberia',
which the London club slammed as a racial slur.
But, after studying evidence, the FA have confirmed Bates has no
case to answer.
Chelsea claimed last month's comment was an attack on the race,
religion and nationality of Russian billionaire owner, Roman
Abramovich, who is Jewish.
However, Bates slammed 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
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.