Clattenburg career on the line

Chelsea’s accusation that referee Mark Clattenburg used inappropriate language towards two of their players is spiralling into another huge controversy for the Premier League after the official was stood down for next weekend’s fixtures and police were urged to take up the case, just as they did recently with John Terry.

Clattenburg is already the subject of an FA investigation but the story moved at such a rapid pace yesterday that within hours of a statement from Wembley there were also reports that the Metropolitan Police were considering taking action.

The complaint took on a new light when news organisations, including the BBC, reported that some of the ‘inappropriate’ language Clattenburg was alleged to have used against John Obi Mikel and Juan Mata during a controversial 3-2 Manchester United victory at Stamford Bridge on Sunday had been interpreted as racist.

Such claims make the entire issue even more sensitive at a time when dealing with racial abuse is already the biggest topic in English football.

The suggestion a senior and respected referee could make inappropriate comments during a televised fixture at such a time seems almost impossible; but Clattenburg, who has promised to co-operate fully with any enquiry, will be under intense pressure.

The furore prompted the Professional Game Match Officials committee to announce it would not select Clattenburg for a game next weekend, saying: “Professional Game Match Officials 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.”

But although several senior figures in football, including PFA chairman Gordon Taylor and a spokesman for the referees’ union Prospect, urged for the matter to be dealt with quickly that may not be possible if police consider the incident worthy of investigation, having received an official complaint from the Society of Black Lawyers.

The man behind the mooted black players’ breakaway union, Peter Herbert, sent a letter to the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), which read: “The Society of Black Lawyers wishes to record the incident that took place at Chelsea FC. Our information is that racist remarks were directed at John Mikel Obi and at Juan Mata. If so, that is wholly unacceptable.

“Although this matter may be investigated by the FA, it is appropriate that the MPS independently see if a racially-aggravated offence has occurred.”

A statement from the police soon followed, saying: “On the afternoon of 29 October, the Metropolitan Police received a complaint relating to the Chelsea v Man Utd match on 28 October. This is now being considered.

“At this time, the Metropolitan Police has not received any complaint from either Chelsea Football Club or the Football Association.

“We will work in partnership with Chelsea Football Club and the Football Association in order to consider any allegation that is made in relation to the reported events.”

Whether the police and the Crown Prosecution Service take up the case remains to be seen; they may well be put off by an unsuccessful attempt to convict Terry following a controversial case that lasted almost a year.

On that occasion nobody heard what Terry said to QPR’s Anton Ferdinand and evidence was thin on the ground. But former referee Graeme Poll believes evidence this time should be far easier to find given that referees and their assistants are miked up. He said: “A referee’s microphone is on open. Everything he says is heard by two assistants. So if Mark said something, the assistants would have heard it.”

It means the views of assistant referees Michael McDonough and Simon Long, and fourth official Michael Jones will be crucial for Clattenburg, whose career is quite clearly on the line. Because although Terry has remained captain of Chelsea despite being found guilty of racial abuse by the FA (having been ruled innocent in court) it is almost unimaginable that a referee could continue officiating under similar circumstances; a fact that former referee Jeff Winter could not ignore when interviewed on the BBC.

“If a match official has used racial insults or language to a player then he’s for the high jump,” he said.

Winter’s words only begin to sum up how serious Chelsea’s allegations could be for Clattenburg, for the wider campaign against racism and for English football itself should police again become involved in events that started on a football field.

Whichever way you look at it there are some uncomfortable times ahead.