Leeds owner Ken Bates will report his former club Chelsea to the Football Association, Premier League, Football League and FIFA after claiming they recruited two Elland Road youngsters by making illegal approaches.
Michael Woods and Tom Taiwo were recruited by Chelsea from Leeds, where the pair began their careers.
Both youngsters, who have not broken into the Chelsea first-team squad, were considered fine prospects for the future by Leeds. However, Chelsea have already stated their belief that they acted appropriately in signing both players.
According to Sky Sports, Bates claimed Chelsea were guilty of ‘behaving consistently and aggressively in stealing players from Leeds United’.
Leeds contacted club lawyers in May as they pursued financial compensation from Chelsea.
Woods and Taiwo refused to sign schoolboy terms with Leeds in February, in favour of a move to Stamford Bridge.
Former Leeds academy coach Gary Worthington, against whom Leeds have issued legal proceedings, had left Elland Road to take up a post at Chelsea shortly before the pair departed.
A Leeds statement in May read: ‘Leeds have instructed their lawyers, who have issued legal proceedings against Gary Worthington, in respect of breach of contract.
‘The matter relates to the circumstances surrounding the signing of Michael Woods and Tom Taiwo by Chelsea FC.’
Bates wants Chelsea to be docked points or banned from playing in Europe as a result of the alleged activities.
http://www.rte.ie/sport/2006/0802/chelsea.html
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