Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck has taken a swipe at UEFA, claiming they 'wasted their time' by charging the club following allegations of anti-Semitic chanting.

The Premier League club were facing a partial stadium closure after European football's governing body opened investigations into accusations of racist behaviour by travelling fans during their Europa League draw with Vidi in December.

However, on Thursday evening Chelsea were cleared of any wrongdoing, prompting Buck to take aim at UEFA's actions.

Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck poses with the community project of the year award at the London Football Awards on Thursday night

UEFA investigated after alleged anti-Semitic chanting from Chelsea fans against Vidi

'The charge in the first place was a waste of time,' he told the Evening Standard after picking up the Community Project of the Year gong for Chelsea's 'Say No To Anti-Semitism' programme at the London Football Awards on Thursday night.

Buck added: 'Almost nothing happened (against Vidi). I really thought they were wasting their time, effort and manpower on something like this and missing some of the big pictures.

'We know we have problems now and then at Chelsea. One of the things we are trying to do is solve some of the problems we have, but we are not going to solve racism or anti-Semitism.

'We just like to move the needle a little bit and encourage others to do the same.'

Chelsea have avoided a stadium ban ahead of their Europa League clash with Dynamo Kyiv

Travelling fans were accused of singing offensive songs during their draw at Vidi in December

Buck's comments are in stark contrast to a statement released by Chelsea in the immediate aftermath of the 2-2 draw in Hungary.

The Blues condemned their own fans and urged them to 'summon brainpower' after a song that refers to Tottenham disparagingly as 'Yids' was sung.

A Chelsea club statement read: 'Anti-Semitism and any other kind of race-related or religious hatred is abhorrent to this club and the overwhelming majority of our fans. It has no place at Chelsea or in any of our communities.

'We have stated this loud and clear on many occasions from the owner, the board, coaches and players.

'Any individuals that can't summon the brainpower to comprehend this simple message and are found to have shamed the club by used using anti-Semitic or racist words or actions will face the strongest possible action from the club.'

The chants were heard from the press box in a different stand from the away end in Budapest

Buck makes a speech after picking up the gong at the London Football Awards on Thursday

The words of the song are: 'Barcelona, Real Madrid, Tottenham are a bunch of Yids... Yiddos'.

It was audible from the press box in a different stand but Chelsea supporters present in the away end also took to social media to complain about those sitting near them.

At the time, Chelsea's hierarchy were described as being furious by the episode, which came just days after Raheem Sterling was viciously abused by fans during Manchester City's defeat at Stamford Bridge.