Former Chelsea chairman Ken Bates has demanded £24m for Michael Woods and Tom Taiwo, the two youth team players Chelsea signed from Bates’ current club Leeds United.
Bates alleges improper conduct on Chelsea’s part and has threatened to report the club to FIFA, confident that a 12-point deduction would be meted out if he carried out his threat.
“We’re asking for £24 million for the players,” he told the Sunday Mirror.
“They made an illegal approach for three of our kids, so, at the moment, we’re going to report them to FIFA as well. They’re sitting on a three-point deduction for [Ashley] Cole. We’re asking the FA to revive that. So three points for each player would represent a 12-point deduction for next season.”
Chelsea have responded to Bates’ claim by issuing a denial that states that they feel there has been no wrongdoing on their part.
“We’ve always denied that an illegal approach was made for Woods, Taiwo and Rose [Danny Rose, who turned down a move to Stamford Bridge],” read a statement.
“We made an approach to Leeds at the end of last year which they rejected. There was then a window of opportunity where the club could come in and make offers. Two of the players joined Chelsea. If there is an official complaint there is a process in place which can deal with this kind of matter.”
