"He called me a monkey," he told reporters. "I understood it. He called me a monkey and I am very angry."

Eto'o said Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho, involved in a war of words with Barcelona before both legs on this pulsating tie, was to blame for the bad feeling.

"You should look at the face of the coach. This is the mentality of the club. If Chelsea win the European Cup it would be laughable," he said.

Barcelona defender Carles Puyol said: "The other players told me the security guards insulted Eto'o and called him a monkey. That's when the problems started."

Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard and Ronaldinho were involved in a struggle with stewards as they left the pitch.

TV pictures showed Rijkaard and Ronaldinho grappling with stewards. At one stage Ronaldinho was heard shouting at them: "You're all racists."

Chelsea's scout Andre Villas was alleged to have started the flare-up by blowing kisses at Rijkaard, who had to be held back by several stewards.

Barcelona fans threw water bottles and other missiles, some aimed at Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich.

Rijkaard said: "Some guy came forward and insulted our bench and I don't want to say what I think of him. I am always bitter when I lose and I am even more bitter because of all the lies they (Chelsea) told before this game."

Mourinho said after the 2-1 defeat in Barcelona that Rijkaard had talked to Swedish referee Anders Frisk at half-time of that match and Frisk later sent off Chelsea striker Didier Drogba.

UEFA director of communications William Gaillard said: "There have been allegations that a Chelsea steward called Eto'o a monkey. We will be looking into this matter but need evidence. We can't just accept his word."

Barcelona have yet to make an official complaint. Eto'o, African Footballer of the Year, has suffered frequent racial abuse in Spain.

"There were some racist comments," Barcelona's former Arsenal defender Giovanni Van Bronckhorst told SKY TV.

But Chelsea denied the claims.

A spokesman for the Premiership leaders said: "Chelsea utterly refutes any racist comments were made by any of its permanent or matchday staff.

"Chelsea has an excellent record of supporting anti-racism campaigns and condemns all forms of racism."

Brazil star Ronaldinho claims John Terry's winning goal should have been disallowed for a foul on the Barcelona goalkeeper.

"When the corner came over, there was a foul on our keeper Victor Valdes," said Ronaldinho, who scored both Barca goals.

"The referee should have stopped the action, but he let Terry make his header. I understand it was all very fast, but there was a foul that everybody saw."

The foul was the only thing top referee Pierluigi Collina missed in another authoritative display.

However, Rijkaard refused to complain.

"The players complained to the ref on the pitch when it happened and this is not the moment to start whinging. We needed to have taken our chances and been more careful about giving away corners," he said.

"The team that wins, does so because they deserve it. Sure, I've got a bad taste in my mouth after the defeat, but that's the way football is."

Terry's dramatic winner earned Chelsea a 4-2 victory at Stamford Bridge to secure a 5-4 aggregate triumph over the Catalan giants.

The England international's goal arrived after Chelsea had blown a three-goal lead and looked to be heading out of the competition at the second round phase on away goals.