Clattenburg to sit out fourth weekend

Mark Clattenburg will miss a fourth weekend of Premier League matches as Chelsea’s complaint against him continues to hang over the referee.

The Football Association’s investigation into Chelsea’s allegation that Clattenburg used inappropriate language, understood to have been interpreted as racist, towards midfielder John Obi Mikel is still continuing and a decision is not now expected until later this week.

Clattenburg denies the accusation.

The north-east official does not want to take charge of any matches while the case is still hanging over him, so was not considered for any of the games taking place at the weekend.

The FA have interviewed several Chelsea players including Mikel, plus Clattenburg, the two assistant referees Michael McDonough and Simon Long and fourth official Michael Jones.

An independent QC is studying all the evidence in close detail before recommending a decision.