By Andrew Warshaw
October 30 – The English Football Association (FA) has launched an official investigation into allegations against FIFA referee Mark Clattenburg for allegedly using bad language towards two Chelsea players in Sunday’s (October 28) explosive Premier League clash with Manchester United.
The move comes after Chelsea, whose own captain John Terry is serving a four-match ban for racial abuse, made a formal complaint against Clattenburg (pictured top), one of the Premier League’s most experienced but controversial referees, accusing him of using “inappropriate language”.
Some reports claim Clattenburg’s words verged on the racist and he was immediately stood down for the coming weekend’s fixtures.
Despite having officiated across the world, Clattenburg, who took charge of the Olympic men’s final at London 2012, has been no stranger to the limelight – on and off the field – in recent years and the decision to take him off the domestic match rota was no surprise.
In a statement, the Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO) board, the referees’ body in England, said: “PGMO believe that with any football match the focus should not be on the officials but on the players and the game itself.
“Mark Clattenburg is one of the elite referees in world football and, in these circumstances, the intense level of scrutiny would detract from the match and be unfair to the clubs and the supporters of both sides.
“PGMO is aware of the allegations and they are being treated with the utmost seriousness.
“Mark will cooperate fully and welcomes the opportunity for the facts to be established.”
In a further development, Peter Herbert, a lawyer representing a possible breakaway union by black footballers, made a written complaint to the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS).
“Our information is that racist remarks were directed at John Mikel Obi (pictured above, left, with Clattenburg) and at Juan Mata,” he wrote.
“If so, that is wholly unacceptable in any circumstances.”
The Metropolitan Police confirmed it had received a complaint and that it was being considered.
During Sunday’s highly charged encounter, Clattenburg sent off two Chelsea players.
Branislav Ivanović and Fernando Torres were shown red cards in the space of five minutes, the latter’s second yellow for diving heavily disputed, and United went on to win 3-2.
The affair has plunged English football, which is only just recovering from the Terry case, straight back into another controversy involving Chelsea, the European champions.
The Premier League leaders host United again on tomorrow, this time in the League Cup, and although teams often rest their best players in this competition, the clash is bound to take on extra spice.
Contact the writer of this story at zib.l1734901400labto1734901400ofdlr1734901400owedi1734901400sni@w1734901400ahsra1734901400w.wer1734901400dna1734901400