Another Chelsea storm brewing
Source: Agencies |
October 30, 2012, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
THE English Football Association has opened an investigation into Chelsea's claim that a referee used "inappropriate language" toward its players during Sunday's 2-3 loss to Manchester United in London.
Chelsea accused referee Mark Clattenburg of insulting two players and lodged an official complaint with the FA. English football's governing body said in a statement yesterday: "The FA has begun an investigation relating to allegations made following Sunday's fixture."
The move is likely to plunge English soccer, only just recovering from one damaging crisis surrounding Chelsea, straight back into a new one involving the European champion.
Chelsea said Clattenburg, who sent off two home players - Branislav Ivanovic and Fernando Torres - in the highly-charged Stamford Bridge defeat, used "inappropriate language" towards two players.
The club would not name the players in question or of what nature the remarks were, but a spokesman refused to deny that Nigerian midfielder John Obi Mikel had visited the referee's room after the game.
Mikel was booked for dissent during the second half.
The European champion's decision to lodge a complaint against the FIFA-listed referee is largely unprecedented.
Clattenburg not only sent off two players but the officials rubbed salt into Chelsea's wounds by allowing Javier Hernandez's 75th-minute goal that won the game for United to stand, even though he was marginally offside before scoring.
The referee has yet to comment but the Professional Game Match Officials Board, which manages top English referees, said in a statement that Chelsea's allegations were "being treated with the utmost seriousness".
A number of yesterday's British newspapers simply had the headline "Accused" on their back pages as featured in The Independent, Daily Mirror and Daily Express.
The Guardian had a banner headline "Ref in Chelsea race row" while the Daily Mail proclaimed "Ref Race Row" although those allegations have not been substantiated.
Chelsea is currently without skipper John Terry, who has served two games of a four-match ban for racially abusing Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand last year.
That case has blighted English soccer for a year after the former England player was also ordered to appear in court accused of a racially aggravated public order offense, of which he was acquitted.
Chelsea accused referee Mark Clattenburg of insulting two players and lodged an official complaint with the FA. English football's governing body said in a statement yesterday: "The FA has begun an investigation relating to allegations made following Sunday's fixture."
The move is likely to plunge English soccer, only just recovering from one damaging crisis surrounding Chelsea, straight back into a new one involving the European champion.
Chelsea said Clattenburg, who sent off two home players - Branislav Ivanovic and Fernando Torres - in the highly-charged Stamford Bridge defeat, used "inappropriate language" towards two players.
The club would not name the players in question or of what nature the remarks were, but a spokesman refused to deny that Nigerian midfielder John Obi Mikel had visited the referee's room after the game.
Mikel was booked for dissent during the second half.
The European champion's decision to lodge a complaint against the FIFA-listed referee is largely unprecedented.
Clattenburg not only sent off two players but the officials rubbed salt into Chelsea's wounds by allowing Javier Hernandez's 75th-minute goal that won the game for United to stand, even though he was marginally offside before scoring.
The referee has yet to comment but the Professional Game Match Officials Board, which manages top English referees, said in a statement that Chelsea's allegations were "being treated with the utmost seriousness".
A number of yesterday's British newspapers simply had the headline "Accused" on their back pages as featured in The Independent, Daily Mirror and Daily Express.
The Guardian had a banner headline "Ref in Chelsea race row" while the Daily Mail proclaimed "Ref Race Row" although those allegations have not been substantiated.
Chelsea is currently without skipper John Terry, who has served two games of a four-match ban for racially abusing Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand last year.
That case has blighted English soccer for a year after the former England player was also ordered to appear in court accused of a racially aggravated public order offense, of which he was acquitted.
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