Clattenburg gets full backing of officials

Referee Mark Clattenburg will receive the backing of his fellow officials as an investigation into allegations he used “inappropriate language” towards a player is conducted.

Chelsea have lodged a formal complaint with the Football Association after alleging Clattenburg spoke out of turn to John Obi Mikel during Sunday’s stormy Premier League clash against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.

The west London club have submitted a dossier of evidence which contains accounts given by players, who claim the 37-year-old official used a term which has been interpreted as racist.

Police are also investigating the matter.

Clattenburg denies the allegation and it is understood that assistant referees Michael McDonough and Simon Long, and fourth official Michael Jones, also believe he is innocent.

It is understood the trio feel they did not hear anything untoward from the referee during the match on their linked headsets and are expected to say as much in any testimony.

It is also understood that the professional refereeing community as a whole has been deeply upset by the claim against Clattenburg, who himself is determined to clear his name.

Other well-respected current and former referees will offer positive character references for Clattenburg’s defence if it is decided he has a case to answer to the FA or police.

If the procedure for previous disciplinary cases is followed, Clattenburg is likely to be the last person the FA interviews as part of its enquiries.

It is expected the governing body will firstly look at Chelsea’s dossier and then speak to McDonough, Long and Jones before interviewing the man who was in charge of the game.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has said he would have dealt with the situation differently if it had arisen in one of his team’s games.

The Frenchman said: “My opinion is just, I prefer when I didn’t behave well, that I have an explanation with the referee at the end of the game, or on another day, than going public with little proof, you know?

“I’m not a great believer in making these stories public. One of the great things in sports as well is tolerance, forgiveness and explanation internally and I think it should stay like that.

“It can happen that a referee doesn’t behave well, I do not say they are angels, but it is always better to sort it out in the room.”

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce expressed his dismay that police have become involved in another high-profile footballing matter.

Allardyce said: “It’s very difficult to comment because you don’t know the extent of what is supposed to have been said, that is the critical thing for me. For me to comment – I just think a situation like that is very difficult for everybody to sort out, and then the police are involved as well and it really worries me about where we are going in the game.

“I think if every incident is going to end up in the police’s hands then it is going to be sad for the game.’’

Meanwhile, a police investigation is under way after a Chelsea supporter made an alleged racist gesture towards a Manchester United player.

A picture has emerged showing a fan making a “monkey” action during the Blues’ Capital One Cup fourth-round tie against United at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night.

Chelsea have also launched their own investigation into the matter and promised full assistance to the police.

A statement from the Metropolitan Police read: “Today, Thursday, November 1, police have received a complaint regarding alleged racist behaviour at Stamford Bridge last night, Wednesday, October 31.

“An investigation has been launched. There have been no arrests and enquiries continue.”