Bates: Sacking of Bosnich is a tragedy

Chelsea chairman Ken Bates today admitted that Mark Bosnich's sacking is a "tragedy" for both the player and the club.

His comments follow a Premier League tribunal's decision not to uphold the Australian goalkeeper's claim for unfair dismissal after he tested positive for cocaine.

Bates said: "This whole case is a tragedy from everyone's point of view and so unnecessary. At the end of the day, Mark is in control of his own body and how he behaves."

Bosnich, who has been suffering from depression, argued he only failed the drugs test because his drink had been spiked during a night out in Knightsbridge.

But the tribunal backed Chelsea's view that the £42,000-a-week goalkeeper had breached the terms of his employment and they were right to sack him.

Bosnich has seven days to appeal against the decision. The 31-year-old, who has vowed to prove his innocence, also faces a Football Association disciplinary hearing into his positive drugs test.

Meanwhile, Bates today accused Charlton of wasting Chelsea's time with their complaint to the Premier League about the Stamford Bridge pitch.

The two clubs gave evidence to a League hearing on Monday after Charlton asked for last month's 4-1 defeat replayed due to the heavilysanded playing surface.

He said: "I can't believe the nonsense and work we have had to do because of this stupid complaint Charlton have made. We've got a thick file backed up by video evidence which will demonstrate Charlton have talked a load of rubbish about this."

The League is expected to announce a decision next week.