Chelsea in clear over 'hat-trick'

Chelsea were today cleared by UEFA of using dirty tricks to keep in contact with their absent manager Jose Mourinho.

The club's fitness coach Rui Faria was pictured holding a hand to his ear under a woolly hat before passing hand-written notes to assistant managers Baltemar Brito and Steve Clarke during last night's 4-2 Champions League quarter-final win.

To add to the intrigue, goalkeeping coach Silvino Louro repeatedly disappeared down the Stamford Bridge tunnel before returning with advice for his colleagues.

UEFA were sufficiently concerned to send officials Hans Hultman and Fritz Ahlstrom to approach the Chelsea bench at the start of the second-half, after which Faria mysteriously removed his hat.

But UEFA said today they would not be taking the matter any further.

Media officer Hans Hultman said: "From UEFA's point of view everything is okay. We heard about the pictures and had a look in the second half but there's nothing to investigate. Chelsea have done nothing wrong and the suspension has been fulfiled."

Mourinho admitted using sophisticated equipment to contact the touchline when he was banned from Porto's UEFA Cup semifinal against Lazio two years ago, but Brito insists there was no communication with Mourinho during last night's game.