Clattenburg could face police investigation

Mark Clattenburg was tonight facing the prospect of a police and Football Association investigation into allegations he used “inappropriate language” towards Chelsea stars John Obi Mikel and Juan Mata.

Clattenburg was yesterday accused by the European champions of making offensive comments, which are understood to have been interpreted as racist, during their acrimonious Barclays Premier League defeat to Manchester United.

Chelsea lodged a formal complaint with the match delegate, sparking an almost inevitable chain of events that this afternoon saw the FA announce an investigation and Clattenburg stood down from officiating for a week.

What was far from inevitable, however, was the involvement of the police, who tonight became embroiled in a second high-profile football race case after the Society of Black Lawyers demanded they look into whether a criminal offence had been committed.

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 in any circumstances.

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

The police tonight confirmed they had received the letter but it is understood it was by no means certain an investigation would follow.