Chelsea: Players didn't mishear ref's alleged slur

LONDON (AP) -Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck says his club had no choice but to pursue a claim of racial abuse after he three times reportedly asked the players involved "if they might have heard `Mikel' instead of `monkey''' from referee Mark Clattenburg.

Buck told the London Evening Standard that Chelsea was obliged to report to the Football Association once that was denied. The players involved are believed to be black midfielders John Obi Mikel and Ramires.

Buck says "the reaction has been very unfair'' as "I felt we had the moral high ground,'' adding if the club had done nothing then "if that had leaked out, we would've really been crucified.''

Buck says Chelsea isn't being "hypocritical'' despite backing captain John Terry when he served a ban for racially abusing an opponent.