Clattenburg

[Tee]

After seeing that Manc banner last night there is a part of me that wishes he did say it.

[Exiled_red]

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/footba...s-over-1409690

There are a number of things in there that look similar to the Suarez situation, one persons word against another, seemingly no video or audio footage, potential language barrier. This is another 'balance of probabilities' situation again...

[Buzzo]

What a ****ing farce.

The inpenetrable Geordie accent eh.

I agree no way did Clattenberg say 'shut up Monkey' to Mikel... Why would he? Seems equally unlikely he called Mata a 'Spanish ****'. These complaints coming after Chelsea (quite rightly) feel hard done to due to some of his decisions make it all seem a bit reactionary. Bu for Clattenberg to decide to give all decisions to Utd AND decide this was tyhe time to reveal his closet racism seems totally unlikely.

Chelsea have ****ed this right up they may not agree with Terrys punishment, but this is not the way to try and prove the point.

Football seems totally and utterly incapable of having a reasoned and morally correct code to racism. Totally the wrong people and forum for racism to be receiving any headlines.

Utterly farcical.

[Alex]

One thing is for sure after all this comes out. Clattenberg aint gonna ref Chelsea again.

[BootRoom]

The doubt in that Mirror article supposedly expressed by the Chelsea 'insiders' is completely at odds with the official statement Chelsea has put out.

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.

They recruited outside legal counsel to conduct a thorough investigation, so it would be a bit much to spin a story of "oh sorry mate, we just misheard your accent" baloney.

I'm going into pure speculation mode here, and suggesting that Chelsea know they are in deep **** regarding the conents of Clattenburg's extraordinary report, and are flapping around trying to mitigate it in some way.

[Buzzo]

I reckon Clattenberg probably said 'shut up. ok?'

[Cormack74]

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.

Yeah, I remember and you're right it was rarely properly enforced and lasted all of 5 minutes.

Years ago I'd play football on a saturday and rugby on a sunday so I'd switch from answering the ref' back and questioning every decision (like all the other players did) to keeping my mouth shut and accepting everything that he said.

[Tee]

I reckon Clattenberg probably said 'shut up. ok?'

Highly plausible.

[Maxiedge]

...or 'Shut up, mmmmmkay?'

[dom9]

...or 'Shut up, mmmmmkay?'

[SK]

I've just read about the Serbian police wanting to arrest some of the England Under 21 team and coaches and the article talks about possible extradition and jail if found guilty of violence.

It seems absurd the publicity the Suarez, Terry and now this case have gotten relative to what they are accused of saying when compared with the blatant racism in Serbia by individuals and institutions that results in them trying to protect themselves with ridiculous stunts like this.

It's just incredible, the FA, the media, supporters and to some extent the players and the clubs feed themselves into a frenzy and then you see how FIFA, UEFA and other governments react (don't react) to much more serious racist problems in Europe and elsewhere.

I'm not saying they shouldn't be punished If Suarez, Terry and Clattenborg are guilty but their has to be some perspective by the UK governing bodies, media, supporters and players.

there are massive problems in serbian football, but they've dealt with this particular matter in a good way, if i'm not mistaken two of their players are getting banned for a few years, and so are some of the coaching staff and a few "fans". now the charge aginst the two english players is a result of them starting a brawl, not the serbians trying to protect themselves.

[Phoenix07]

Interesting when you look at these and how quickly the events followed after the players were found guilty:

Liverpool:
- Luis Suarez found guilty. 8 match ban
- Oldham player thinks he heard racist language used against him from someone in crowd
- Monkey gesture at Anfield against Evra.

Chelsea:
- John Terry found guilty. 4 match ban
- Chelsea report Clattenburg for potential racist language
- Monkey gesture at Stamford Bridge at Welbeck.

Chelsea are the new target for racist behaviour. That isn't a good thing at all.

[Vermilion]

Clattenburg been found not guilty.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2226765/Mark-Clattenburg-racism-latest-Sir-Alex-Ferguson-rubbishes-Chelsea-claim.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

[Maxiedge]

[Gaz]