BBC:
"It's unfortunate you cannot go to a dinner these days without someone sneakily reporting everything you say.
"That's the nature of life but I didn't say that. What I said was Chelsea have supposedly signed 30 African players.
"I never made any reference to what effect that has on football."
Johannesburg Star journalist Rodney Hatman was a guest at the charity dinner for 700 guests at Turffontein racecourse.
He said: "Ferguson was asked what he thought about Chelsea and in the midst of his answer he said that they were 'hell-bent on ruining football'.
"He also said there was no way his own club could match their money, that Chelsea were just buying up players and the chances of them all playing were pretty slim."
More Fergie: "Chelsea have every right to do what they think is right for their club, but we do what is right for us," Ferguson added.
"I've never at any time said that what Chelsea do is bad for the game. If it's good for Chelsea that's the important thing.
"The question I posed is that if it's correct that they've signed 30 African boys how are they all going to get a game? That was my point."