Chelsea plc chairman Bruce Buck made a surprise appearance at UEFA’s disciplinary hearing in Switzerland today – a sign that the club is bending over backwards to avoid harsh sanctions from European football’s ruling body.

Chelsea are hoping a partial retraction of their claims about Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard meeting referee Anders Frisk will save them from from Champions League expulsion today.

CHELSEA will robustly deny disrepute charges brought by UEFA against the club and officials at a disciplinary hearing today - but even if found guilty they will almost certainly escape the severest possible punishment of expulsion from the Champions League.

CHELSEA put the finishing touches to their defence yesterday as they prepared for tomorrow’s disciplinary hearing at UEFA’s headquarters in Switzerland.

CHELSEA manager Jose Mourinho has suggested that he had not personally witnessed his Barcelona counterpart Frank Rijkaard enter the referee’s dressing room during the controversial Champions League match at the Nou Camp.

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho today revealed his determination to stand by his staff over the Anders Frisk row, vowing: “I don’t run away from a fight”.

Chelsea remain confident of winning £8m (€11.5m) in compensation from Juventus after sacked striker Adrian Mutu appeared before yesterday’s FA Premier League hearing in London.

CHELSEA chief executive Peter Kenyon yesterday vehemently rejected claims Chelsea had lied to UEFA over allegations Frank Rijkaard had a dressing room meeting with Anders Frisk.

CHELSEA will spend the weekend deciding on the composition of the team which will attend next Thursday’s disciplinary hearing at UEFA HQ in Switzerland.

Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon today rejected claims Chelsea had lied to UEFA over allegations Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard had a dressing room meeting with Swedish referee Anders Frisk.

UEFA official William Gaillard has assured Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho that everyone is innocent until proven guilty.

THE Premier League last night started the process of appointing an independent disciplinary commission into Chelsea’s alleged ‘tapping up’ of Ashley Cole.

Chelsea are likely to be fined tomorrow by UEFA’s Control and Disciplinary Body for two misdemeanours during and after their Champions League clash with Barcelona at the Nou Camp.

Jose Mourinho has predicted that the charges levelled against Chelsea by UEFA will be dropped next week.

Chelsea are still considering their response after being accused by UEFA of telling deliberate lies about Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard and referee Anders Frisk.

CHELSEA could face the ultimate sanction of disqualification from the Champions League after being accused by UEFA of telling deliberate lies about Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard and referee Anders Frisk.

UEFA have charged Chelsea, manager Jose Mourinho, assistant manager Steve Clarke and club security official Les Miles with bringing the game into disrepute with “wrong and unfounded statements” after a Champions League match against Barcelona.