Anders Frisk submitted his referee's report to UEFA yesterday and it cast significant doubt on Chelsea claims that Frank Rijkaard had entered the match officials' dressing room during Wednesday's Champions League second-round tie at the Nou Camp.

Chelsea's manager Jose Mourinho was furious at perceived fraternisation between the Swedish referee and Barcelona's manager at half-time of a match that saw the Premiership leaders reduced to 10 men and beaten 2-1. Mourinho refused to attend a post-match press conference, a violation of UEFA regulations that is likely to result in the Portuguese receiving a fine, with his club instead releasing a statement declaring that an official complaint will be filed to the European governing body.

Chelsea's company secretary David Barnard was last night still compiling his club's dossier, and it is anticipated that this will be submitted to UEFA some time this afternoon. None the less, the contents of Frisk's report suggest Chelsea will have trouble convincing UEFA of any wrongdoing.

"The referee's report states very clearly that nothing objectionable took place," said a UEFA spokesman. When asked if Rijkaard had entered Frisk's dressing room, the spokesman added: "This was denied categorically by Anders Frisk.

"A couple of UEFA officials were present at the time. They saw Frank Rijkaard apologising to Anders Frisk for not having said good evening to him before the game. He then said good evening.

"The referee clearly states what happened at half-time by saying that Frank Rijkaard greeted him. The referee has to tell UEFA if there was inappropriate behaviour from a Barcelona official and there was nothing in the report."

That the exchange was witnessed by UEFA officials will not deter Chelsea from pursuing their complaint, since they believe they have sufficient evidence and witnesses to reinforce their claims that Rijkaard had indulged in a cosy conversation with the controversial Swedish referee. Certainly the Dutchman was seen standing on the touchline after the half-time whistle, awaiting Frisk's return to the players' tunnel.

After the match, Rijkaard dismissed having entered the referee's dressing room as "rumour from Chelsea", though he admitted to having "said hello to the referee; I said something about the game but in a very polite and friendly way."

The immediate post-match focus had been, however, on suggestions of a scuffle involving Rijkaard's assistant Henk Ten Cate and Mourinho, in which it was reported that Ten Cate had assaulted the Chelsea manager with a kick to the backside. Though Chelsea took no steps to indicate what would be the thrust of their submission to UEFA, they did move to douse those wildfire rumours. "Following the Barcelona match, it is being reported that an incident occurred between Jose Mourinho and a member of the Barcelona coaching staff," read a Chelsea statement yesterday. "This incident did not happen and Chelsea can therefore confirm this will not form part of our report to UEFA."

There was, however, believed to be some dispute between Ten Cate and Chelsea's goalkeeping coach Silvinho Louro and their head first-team coach Baltemar Brito. Though it is thought unlikely that there will be any sanctions towards Barcelona as a result of Chelsea's representations, Chelsea have effectively shifted the focus away from a relatively disappointing result.

A series of rash challenges from the Ivory Coast international striker Didier Drogba led to his second-half dismissal - and his reluctance to leave the pitch might prompt a UEFA punishment - when Chelsea were leading.

Meanwhile, Arsenal will have Thierry Henry and Robin van Persie as their only senior strikers for the next three games after Jose Antonio Reyes was yesterday found guilty of violent conduct. Reyes received a three-match ban for slapping Sheffield United's Andy Liddell last Saturday and will serve the same suspension as Dennis Bergkamp, who was sent off in that FA Cup tie. Reyes and Bergkamp are ruled out of tomorrow's game at Southampton, the FA Cup replay at Bramall Lane and then the Premiership match at home to Portsmouth.

Van Persie will be paired with Henry and there is likely to be a place on the bench for the 18-year-old Quincy Owusu-Abeyie.

Arsenal will be without Edu for at least the next two games because of a hamstring injury sustained at Bayern Munich.

The midfielder will have a scan today and if that reveals a tear he will miss a minimum of two more matches, including the Champions League return against Bayern. Mathieu Flamini will partner Patrick Vieira in central midfield at St Mary's, and Ashley Cole "looks better every day", according to Wenger and could return after illness.