Clattenburg

[Tee]

Give it a break. I remember Drogba scoring a goal against Utd 3 years ago or so that gave Chelsea the title basically. No one was calling that rigged. Torres should have been sent off for his DeJong style kick earlier. Was the ref bribed by Chelsea then?

Maybe Everton bribed the linesmen to give that goal offside. All of these things are bad refereeing. Nothing more.

But there is clearly a willingness, albeit subconsciously, to give the Scum the benefit of the doubt on all marginal decisions.

[Maxiedge]

But there is clearly a willingness, albeit subconsciously, to give the Scum the benefit of the doubt on all marginal decisions.

or the complete opposite for us.

[Tee]

or the complete opposite for us.

Absolutely no doubt at all, especially when it comes to our Luis.

[Chazza]

CHELSEA STATEMENT

Posted on: Wed 31 Oct 2012
Chelsea Football Club today lodged a formal complaint with The Football Association regarding inappropriate language directed at John Mikel Obi by referee Mark Clattenburg. This is a result of a thorough investigation carried out by the club, and led by outside legal counsel, of all information available to us including interviews with a number of players and staff.

Following Sunday's Premier League game against Manchester United, club board members were quickly made aware, upon entering the home dressing room after the final whistle, that there were allegations of inappropriate language directed at Chelsea FC players by Mr Clattenburg during the game.

Board members began establishing the details of the allegations, speaking to all relevant players and staff. After those initial interviews it was clear that the matter had to be reported. The correct protocol for doing so was to report the incidents to the match delegate, and the club took immediate steps to inform him as soon as he was available. It was not a decision the club took lightly.

Since reporting the matter to the delegate, the club and outside legal counsel have conducted further investigations. Having completed that process we have now followed the correct protocol and lodged a formal complaint with The FA regarding John Mikel Obi. There was not sufficient evidence to support a second claim to The FA with regard to the alleged verbal abuse of another first team player.

We will cooperate fully with The FA and the Police as they each investigate the matter. As events on Sunday are now subject to those investigations we are unable to comment further until those processes are complete.

[Gibbo]

Sky Sports Football @SkyFootball

Chelsea make official complaint to FA about alleged racial abuse from Clattenburg to Mikel. Mata accusation dropped. More to follow

[baitman]

Charging people for claiming racism if not proven is wrong, unless the allegations are later admitted to be deliberately false

no one would ever admit to deliberately making false accusations. the idea that they may have been mistaken is a cop out.
surely making false accusations is bringing the game into disrepute.

all the more reason to have the refs miked and recorded, just to cover everyones arse. its only a matter of time after this debacle.

[TheElephantMan]

It said on Radio 5 Live that the word "monkey" was used.

[Lisburn Red]

Again I say it...no truck with racism.

That said I am worried that we are approaching a situation where bonafide and justified complaints concerning racism will get undermined immeasurably if players or whoever feel they can make complaints regardless of the facts and without any adverse ramifications on them if they are malicious in nature.

To be clear if any 'grievance' system is to be respected and credible any person making false accusations once identified should be absolutely hammered and hung out to dry. If you make a complaint on such a serious matter and considering the potential impact on the alleged 'assailant' you should be in a position to prove it beyond reasonable doubt (not on the balance of probabilities) or suffer the consequences in a manner that would have been as proportionate to the accused if the facts had been 'proved'.

Yes the FA has painted itself into a corner with its nigh on jingoistic easy hit decision against the 'dirty little foreigner' Luis Suarez and the credibility of this was exposed over its different treatment of good old JT.

The FA may be in a corner but I really am suspect about the credibility of Chelsea on this in the context of huge upset about the refereeing of a critical game, an apparent lack of supporting evidence from officials party to all the communications from Clattenburg, and the absence of other third party evidence. If this is proved to be bollocks the FA will need to grow a set and deliver a undeniable and monumental precedent here against Mikel and Chelsea for the sake of the game and the credibility of its already suspect process.

Wasn't the Olympics refreshing !

[Lisburn Red]

Charging people for claiming racism if not proven is wrong, unless the allegations are later admitted to be deliberately false

Sorry for what's it worth I disagree. What you propose and support is a one way street where people can allege what they want without any ramifications.

There is no justice or fairness in this.

[Cormack74]

Football has brought all this on itself IMO by allowing players to get away with christ knows what when talking to officials.

Proper Rugby style refereeing would sort out all the bollocks in 5 minutes flat but the FA are scared to introduce it because half the games would end up with several sendings off.

According to Graeme Poll on TS yesterday, refs are constantly reminded of the need to ensure good games for the paying fans and TV watchers so they are effectively powerless to deal properly with dissent and abusive language.

[EwarWoo]

Football has brought all this on itself IMO by allowing players to get away with christ knows what when talking to officials.

Proper Rugby style refereeing would sort out all the bollocks in 5 minutes flat but the FA are scared to introduce it because half the games would end up with several sendings off.

They did try that once. Who can forget them making an example of Mascher and then completely backtracking and letting players get away with god knows what in the same match.

[Chazza]

Do or dialect: Did Chelsea staff mishear Mark Clattenburg's heavy Geordie accent?

31 Oct 2012 22:59
Brazilian stars Ramires and Luiz passed on the alleged racist insult to Mikel – but Chelsea staff questioned whether ref's accent sparked mis-reporting

Chelsea players who reported Mark Clattenburg’s alleged racial rant may have misheard his heavy Geordie accent.

Brazilian stars Ramires and David Luiz both claimed the Premier League referee told John Obi Mikel, “Shut up, monkey”.

But after the game against Manchester United, Chelsea officials and players questioned whether they were confused by his accent and he said simply, “Shut up, Mikel”.

Clattenburg, who has vowed to strenuously defend himself, has a strong Geordie twang having been brought up in the North East.

Club insiders admit their case is further confused because 25-year-old Ramires, from Rio De Janiero, speaks very limited English.

Clattenburg, who is set to talk to FA investigators, is also said to have called Chelsea midfielder Juan Mata a “Spanish t**t”.

But just as in Mikel’s case, the player did not hear the referee directly and was again informed of the comment by a team-mate.

The first claims of Clattenburg’s alleged “monkey” rant were made to Nigerian midfielder Mikel by Ramires minutes after the game.

At least three members of the Chelsea playing and coaching staff pressed him on his allegations, pointing out that the ref’s Geordie accent meant certain words could have been misunderstood.

However, the Brazilian was adamant about what he heard and was backed up by his countryman Luiz, who speaks far better English.

A source close to the club said: “The players stand by what they heard but there is a growing concern that a genuine mistake has been made because of the language barrier.”

Chelsea team-mate Oriol Romeu revealed Mata did not hear any alleged insult directed towards him by Clattenburg, 37, during the Stamford Bridge clash on Sunday.

He said: “Neither Juan nor Fernando [Torres] told me they heard it because from what I have understood they didn’t hear anything.

“It was someone else who heard it, but not directly at them. It was another player who heard it and that is what they told me.

"I didn’t hear anything as I left quickly to go home, but after talking to Juan he told me there was some problem and he had to stay.

“I think there could really be a problem if what Chelsea players say happened really happened.

"If there was really a racist comment or something said against a Spanish player this will be serious.”

Former ref Graham Poll confirmed the Mirror story yesterday which revealed Clattenburg was furious at the allegations made against him.

He said: “He’s angry and confused... because he’s being accused of something he doesn’t feel he did and confused because in his mind he’s done nothing wrong.

“People think the refs want to be the stars of the show, but they don’t. They want to do a game, have nothing said about them and go home.

"It’s a difficult position for him. I feel for him. I hope this whole situation gets cleared up as quickly as possible.

“If he did say what they’re accusing him of then he deserves punishing, but if he didn’t, let’s get it resolved quickly and move on.”

Clattenburg looked like the strain of the row was taking its toll as he was spotted outside his home near Newcastle today.

Mum Janet, from Northumberland, said: “Mark’s dad is dead and I’m a widow, so you have to understand it’s hard for me too.”

The two sides met again at Stamford Bridge last night in the League Cup and Chelsea won 5-4.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/chelsea-staff-questioned-witnesses-over-1409690

[Rich]

There's no way Clattenburg said "Shut up, monkey" not a chance in hell.

[Shaggy]

Agreed, no way. It's just not feasible.

[Rich]

Even a racist referee wouldn't use that language.