UEFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against Chelsea, their manager Jose Mourinho and two other staff, effectively accusing the English Premier League leaders of lying.

In an unusually strongly-worded statement outlining its charges, European soccer's governing body said yesterday that Chelsea had made false declarations and "deliberately created a poisoned and negative ambience".

Also cited in the charges, which will be dealt with by UEFA's disciplinary commission on March 31, were assistant manager Steve Clarke and club security official Les Miles.

UEFA spokesman William Gaillard said Mourinho and his staff could face a fine or suspension from the game "exactly the same as a player would incur". Chelsea play Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals in April.

The charges of bringing the game into disrepute follow the first leg of the Champions League knockout round in Barcelona last month when the Spanish side beat Chelsea 2-1.

Chelsea had accused referee Anders Frisk and Barcelona manager Frank Rijkaard of meeting in a dressing room at half-time during the Nou Camp match, suggesting an attempt was made to influence the game.

Chelsea were leading 1-0 at the time and Mourinho sent his side out late for the second half.

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba was sent off after a second yellow card early in the second half and the Portuguese manager refused to attend the mandatory post-match news conference.

"By further disseminating these wrong and unfounded statements, Chelsea FC allowed its technical staff to deliberately create a poisoned and negative ambience amongst the teams and to put pressure on the refereeing officials."

Frisk quits

Frisk quit refereeing 11 days ago after he said he received death threats from fans. Gaillard said UEFA was not accusing Chelsea of forcing Frisk's retirement.

"Our assessment is that the situation that was generated by the Barcelona incident was quite grave for the future of football," Gaillard said.

He said that from where Clarke and Miles were sitting they could not have seen the door to the room where the alleged meeting between Frisk and Rijkaard took place.

Mourinho had compounded the falsehood, Gaillard said, by writing in a Portuguese newspaper that he had personally also witnessed the alleged meeting.

Later yesterday, Chelsea said they had received the UEFA charge and were reviewing their position before responding.

Frisk's sudden retirement shocked UEFA. A war of words ensued with UEFA referees' chief Volker Roth describing Mourinho as an enemy of football and FIFA president Sepp Blatter also weighing into the debate. The outspoken Chelsea manager countered with a threat to sue Roth. Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon spent most of last week trying to build bridges with UEFA.

Earlier this month Mourinho was fined £5,000 ($9,500) for comments he made after the League Cup semi-final first leg against Manchester United.

During the final against Liverpool he was asked to leave the dugout after making provocative gestures to Liverpool fans.

As Chelsea head for their first league title since 1955, Mourinho has stepped out of the limelight, avoiding pre- and post-match news conferences since the Barcelona return match which his side won won 4-2 to qualify for the quarter-finals.

Kenyon's diplomatic efforts appeared to have succeeded after the Champions League draw last Friday when he had friendly meetings with UEFA officials.

Chelsea sources said last week they expected nothing more serious from UEFA than a fine for failing to turn up for the Nou Camp news conference.