English Premier League giants Chelsea, which financially back Dutch club Vitesse Arnhem, have been accused of trying to fix the Dutch league.

Former Vitesse owner, Merab Jordania, claimed Thursday in the daily De Telegraaf that Chelsea do not want the Dutch club to win the league because both cannot compete in the Champions League as UEFA rules prevent two clubs under the same ownership competing in the same competition.

Vitesse, who have traditionally battled Ajax Amsterdam at the top of the Dutch league, have won just three of their last 11 matches, and are now third in the league, 12 points behind Ajax and out of contention for the title.

The club's major shareholder, Russian businessman Alexander Chigrininsky, who is a friend of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, dismissed Jordania's claims as "lies driven by jealousy."