Football
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30 Oct 12
00:52
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• Referee gets backing but will not officiate next weekend
• Police may launch inquiry after receiving a complaint
David Hytner
The Guardian, Monday 29 October 2012
The Football Association has begun an investigation into Mikel John Obi's allegation that he was racially insulted by the referee Mark Clattenburg in Chelsea's 3-2 defeat by Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, and the Metropolitan Police may also open an inquiry after receiving an official complaint.
The Society of Black Lawyers has written to the Met to ask it to "see if a racially-aggravated offence has occurred". That development came as details emerged of the chaos and anxiety in the home dressing room after Sunday's full-time whistle.
Senior Chelsea players spoke to Mikel, the Nigeria midfielder, and asked him if he was absolutely certain that he had heard Clattenburg correctly in the flashpoint that followed Javier Hernández's controversial winning goal for United, when Mikel was booked for dissent.
It was even discussed whether there might have been a misunderstanding that related to Clattenburg's north-east accent. Everybody at Chelsea is acutely sensitive to the severity of the allegation, particularly in the wake of the club captain John Terry's four-match FA suspension for racially abusing Queens Park Rangers' Anton Ferdinand last October.
With tensions running high, Mikel was adamant that he had been wronged and it is understood that three or four of his team-mates were ready to support him; the Brazil midfielder Ramires is one of them. Juan Mata, the Spain midfielder, also felt that Clattenburg had directed offensive language towards him and it is a key aspect of Chelsea's grievance that the referee is accused of using "inappropriate" language on separate occasions to different players.
Clattenburg, who has yet to comment on the allegations but is said by the Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO) to welcome "the opportunity for the facts to be established", has been stood down from taking charge of a game this weekend.
Roberto Di Matteo, the Chelsea manager, emerged late for his post-match press conference as he had been to see Clattenburg, as did Mikel, to confront him over the allegations. The Chelsea squad remained at the stadium for two hours after full time while the club carried out an investigation to establish the facts before they made their formal complaint to the football authorities at 8pm.
The FA, conscious of the 12 months that it took it to reach a verdict over Terry, although that was delayed by his criminal prosecution, is determined to act as quickly as possible this time while maintaining its thoroughness. It will schedule interviews with Mikel, Mata, Clattenburg, his assistants and the fourth official, together with anybody else that it deems necessary, but it is likely that the investigation will take weeks rather than days. Chelsea continued their work into affair at their Cobham training ground on Monday when they took witness statements from players and staff that they will submit to the FA.
Clattenburg has heard support from the referees' union, Prospect, and the PGMO, even though the latter has taken the decision to rest him in light of the furore. "PGMO believe that with any football match," it said, "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 club and the supporters of both sides."
Clattenburg fed his match details from Stamford Bridge into the FA's database as usual, including the relevant codes for the bookings and dismissals, but he needed to write a report to cover the game's extraordinary incidents. The Premier League's match delegate also filed to the FA.
The evidence of the assistant referees, Michael McDonough and Simon Long, together with the fourth official, Michael Jones, stands to be crucial. Clattenburg was wearing a microphone and each member of his officiating team would have been able to hear what he said throughout the 90 minutes. The former World Cup referee Graham Poll said that if Clattenburg had been out of line with his language, he would be brought to book.
"Assistant referees ... if they heard Mark Clattenburg made inappropriate comments, they will report it," Poll said.
Separately, the Metropolitan Police said it was "investigating the incident in which the match-day steward was injured" in the crowd melee that followed Hernández's goal. The FA has opened a separate investigation into the trouble that flared after the decisive goal, when coins and other missiles were thrown from the stands, including part of a plastic seat that had been ripped up. The United midfielder Michael Carrick picked it up and brought it to Clattenburg's notice. The FA knows that it is impossible to stop supporters from entering a stadium with coins but it also acknowledged the other things that were thrown down. Chelsea face censure
• Police may launch inquiry after receiving a complaint
David Hytner
The Guardian, Monday 29 October 2012
The Football Association has begun an investigation into Mikel John Obi's allegation that he was racially insulted by the referee Mark Clattenburg in Chelsea's 3-2 defeat by Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, and the Metropolitan Police may also open an inquiry after receiving an official complaint.
The Society of Black Lawyers has written to the Met to ask it to "see if a racially-aggravated offence has occurred". That development came as details emerged of the chaos and anxiety in the home dressing room after Sunday's full-time whistle.
Senior Chelsea players spoke to Mikel, the Nigeria midfielder, and asked him if he was absolutely certain that he had heard Clattenburg correctly in the flashpoint that followed Javier Hernández's controversial winning goal for United, when Mikel was booked for dissent.
It was even discussed whether there might have been a misunderstanding that related to Clattenburg's north-east accent. Everybody at Chelsea is acutely sensitive to the severity of the allegation, particularly in the wake of the club captain John Terry's four-match FA suspension for racially abusing Queens Park Rangers' Anton Ferdinand last October.
With tensions running high, Mikel was adamant that he had been wronged and it is understood that three or four of his team-mates were ready to support him; the Brazil midfielder Ramires is one of them. Juan Mata, the Spain midfielder, also felt that Clattenburg had directed offensive language towards him and it is a key aspect of Chelsea's grievance that the referee is accused of using "inappropriate" language on separate occasions to different players.
Clattenburg, who has yet to comment on the allegations but is said by the Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO) to welcome "the opportunity for the facts to be established", has been stood down from taking charge of a game this weekend.
Roberto Di Matteo, the Chelsea manager, emerged late for his post-match press conference as he had been to see Clattenburg, as did Mikel, to confront him over the allegations. The Chelsea squad remained at the stadium for two hours after full time while the club carried out an investigation to establish the facts before they made their formal complaint to the football authorities at 8pm.
The FA, conscious of the 12 months that it took it to reach a verdict over Terry, although that was delayed by his criminal prosecution, is determined to act as quickly as possible this time while maintaining its thoroughness. It will schedule interviews with Mikel, Mata, Clattenburg, his assistants and the fourth official, together with anybody else that it deems necessary, but it is likely that the investigation will take weeks rather than days. Chelsea continued their work into affair at their Cobham training ground on Monday when they took witness statements from players and staff that they will submit to the FA.
Clattenburg has heard support from the referees' union, Prospect, and the PGMO, even though the latter has taken the decision to rest him in light of the furore. "PGMO believe that with any football match," it said, "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 club and the supporters of both sides."
Clattenburg fed his match details from Stamford Bridge into the FA's database as usual, including the relevant codes for the bookings and dismissals, but he needed to write a report to cover the game's extraordinary incidents. The Premier League's match delegate also filed to the FA.
The evidence of the assistant referees, Michael McDonough and Simon Long, together with the fourth official, Michael Jones, stands to be crucial. Clattenburg was wearing a microphone and each member of his officiating team would have been able to hear what he said throughout the 90 minutes. The former World Cup referee Graham Poll said that if Clattenburg had been out of line with his language, he would be brought to book.
"Assistant referees ... if they heard Mark Clattenburg made inappropriate comments, they will report it," Poll said.
Separately, the Metropolitan Police said it was "investigating the incident in which the match-day steward was injured" in the crowd melee that followed Hernández's goal. The FA has opened a separate investigation into the trouble that flared after the decisive goal, when coins and other missiles were thrown from the stands, including part of a plastic seat that had been ripped up. The United midfielder Michael Carrick picked it up and brought it to Clattenburg's notice. The FA knows that it is impossible to stop supporters from entering a stadium with coins but it also acknowledged the other things that were thrown down. Chelsea face censure
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hopefully, if it's proved that the ref didn't racially abuse mikel, then the FA will ban mikel for at least 10 games and the police will charge him with making racist statements trying to get someone else into trouble.
that's the only way to stop all these pretend racist allegations. |
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Chelsea's grievance that the referee is accused of using "inappropriate" language on separate occasions to different players.
 You really couldn't make it up could you. These are the same players who week in, week out are seen effing and blinding at officials in full view of spectators and television cameras. Now they have a 'grievance' that the referee used 'inappropriate language' towards them on Sunday. Diddums did he hurt your little feelings? Grow up ffs. |
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chelsea are such bad losers
 no class |
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If it can be proved Clattenburg made racist remarks to any Chelsea player he should be thrown out of the game.
I very much doubt if it can however. In which case, Chelsea should be punished severely for undermining the authority of a referee. My opinion - and that's all it can be since NONE OF US know what was said by who to who in what context, is that Chelsea are trying to flex their muscles in an extremely underhand manner. They lost a game to arch rivals, with contentious flashpoint decisions going against them. In light of the Terry affair they probably feel 'got at' (though the notion of 'multi-million £ turnover football club as victim' is laughable), but instead of manning up and getting on with it, they've concoted this little cameo. Like I said - just an opinion. |
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anything said by the ref is relayed to the other officials
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Maybe they should microphone the refs in football like they do in Rugby....I bet the PFA would have a fit !!!
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Agree with that Roger - although as you say none of us know what actually transpired, that seems to be the most likely scenario.
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Roger - I agree.
If, and I stress if, Clattenburg is found guilty and his career is finished, it would contrast very badly with Terry's four match ban. |
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they claim for every ball that goes out for a throw in that even the guy with the labrador and the white stick has seen coming of his foot.
i would not believe any of the **** if they told me it was tuesday. |
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bbc2 Joined: 16 Apr 09
Replies: 26442 30 Oct 12 09:55 anything said by the ref is relayed to the other officials ...but not recorded as I understand it, hence my focus on what can be proved. Unless the incident occured on the pitch, in full view of cameras (a la Terry) this has all the hallmarks of 'You said this / no I didn't' with no independent (i.e not a Chelsea employe / fan or official) witnesses to corroborate anything. |
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The papers today suggest the alleged 'racist' remark against Mikel took place on the pitch after the 2-3 goal and was heard by Luiz and Ramires (but not Mikel himself) so the remarks should be picked up on the microphones.
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rogerthebutler 30 Oct 12 09:47 Joined: 01 Mar 03 | Topic/replies: 7,117 | Blogger: rogerthebutler's blog If it can be proved Clattenburg made racist remarks to any Chelsea player he should be thrown out of the game. Why? Surely just a 4 game ban or 8 if he said it a few times? |
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if hes called Mikel a choc-ice, how should the F.A deal with that
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why would clattenbergs career be over ?
shirley he could do a racial awareness program of course some people have made rods for his back, if he is found guilty |
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i might add i think if john terry was a bad player i suspect he would be sacked by now
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I'm more concerned by Clattenberg's business debt from years ago, his lack of games refereeing Man Utd since Man City tonked them and his totally biased performance towards Man Utd.
Is it just me, or is Man Utd (players, manager etc..) making to much of keeping 'the problem of racism' in the spotlight, just a smokescreen to deflect the eyes of the world off the true dissease in our game (Corruption). |
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A racial awareness programme?
Surely he can tell what colour a player is  |
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Roy
Because that's how I feel about racists |
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Is it just me, or is Man Utd (players, manager etc..) making to much of keeping 'the problem of racism' in the spotlight, just a smokescreen to deflect the eyes of the world off the true dissease in our game (Corruption).
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It's thanks to organisations like The Society of Black Lawyers (is there a Society of White Lawyers?) that this has gone as far as it has. They see this as another opportunity to enrich their bank balances as the only people to benefit from all of these laughable racism accusations are indeed the lawyers. If being called a name is the worst thing that happens to anybody during their lifetime then they have had a pretty good life.
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What did Clattenberg say ( allegedly ) to Mikel? Ta
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So Clattenburg has been accused of 'racially insulting' Mikel, whereas John Terry was charged with racial abuse.
I'd be interested to know, where in the sand, that particular line is drawn. |
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Its very odd, I think it was decided that Terry used racial abuse but isn't a racist.
Players and/or officials will know exactly what Clattenburg said |
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he allegedly said to the tune of fast car
I have a feeling I like big Ron, I have a feeling that your crap, son |
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The Society of Black Lawyers.
WTF has it to do with them? Are they going to jump on the next black player who does or says something wrong? |
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as non of the black lawyers group heard the comment its interesting that they can make a complaint to the police, which is being investigated
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Very true donny. I suspect plod is heartily sick of getting involved in football spats and twitter bile but this guy from the black lawyers group clearly senses an opportunity to set up a black players union funded by a number of super rich footballers. Who'll provide the unions legal representation I wonder?
I suspect this guy is a leach rather than a genuine campaigner for racial equality. |
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i think the police will be happy to be seen to be taking an active role
in the anti racism campaign, given their failings of the past. |
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i think the police will be happy to be seen to be taking an active role
in the anti racism campaign, given their failings of the past. |
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Metropolitan police launch investigation into alleged comments made by Ref Mark Clanttenburg during Chelsea's match against Man Utd
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football is sick
why is it rugby just doesn't have these problems the refs are in charge in rugby Footballers screaming abuse and surrounding refs and when a ref dishes it out they go crying to the FA, police, and involve black lawyers association - what a laugh - what a farce. And you wonder why I hate football As a cynic I only bet on it now - just cannot stomach this so called game!! |
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As was pointed out by an American black female journalist - where is the FA on this serbian incident !!?? She said the FA were gutless ha ha!!!!
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I feel so sorry for Mark Clattenberg. If the match had passed without two sendings off would he be facing this now.. NO. If Chelsea had won would this be happening.. NO. He has the balls to make two tough decisons and this is what he gets, a police investigation and an FA investigation. This coming from overpaid footballers who routinely abuse officials at every opportunity. Makes me bloody sick, Chelsea should be ashamed of themselves. Sick of this **** game, no respect for anyone.
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From memory, you see Mikel and Clattenburg having a verbal exchange whilst they are returning to the halfway line, during which the yellow card is brandished.
If Mikel is as incensed as we are being told, he is betrayed by his facial expression. |