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.