Referee Mark Clattenburg set to be cleared

Mark Clattenburg is set to be cleared of racially abusing John Obi Mikel to leave Chelsea’s reputation in tatters.

The referee has been the subject of a police and FA investigation into allegations he called Mikel a “monkey” during Chelsea’s game against ­Manchester United on October 28.

But the FA will not charge Clattenburg after deciding the Durham official doesn’t have a case to answer.

Starsport understands Clattenburg said, “Shut up, Mikel” and not ‘Shut up, monkey” – as several of Roberto Di Matteo’s stars had claimed.

The news, which will be confirmed this week, comes after police ended their own investigation, deciding there was no evidence an offence had been committed.

Clattenburg saw his career put on hold as he battled to clear his name of allegations he strenuously denied, but he will now be free to resume top-flight refereeing.

The 37-year-old FIFA official could even decide to sue the Champions League holders if he feels the ­allegations have damaged his reputation.

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

An independent QC has studied all the evidence in close detail before recommending a decision to the FA.

The incident is said to have happened in Chelsea’s 3-2 league defeat to United last month in which Branislav Ivanovic and Fernando Torres were both sent off.

Afterwards, Chelsea accused Clattenburg of the ­racial slur on Mikel, who stormed into his dressing room and confronted him after the match.

Chelsea also accused Clattenburg of calling Juan Mata a “Spanish t**t”, only to back track and drop the accusation, but still pressed ahead and reported the alleged comment about Mikel to the FA.

The FA’s decision to throw out Chelsea’s case will be a humiliating blow to the London giants in the wake of the recent John Terry case.

The former England captain was banned for four matches and fined £220,000 after being found guilty of racially abusing QPR’s Anton Ferdinand by an FA ­independent regulatory commission.

To make matters worse, just hours after the club reported Clattenburg to the FA, a fan in the Blues end was pictured aiming a monkey gesture at United ­striker Danny Welbeck during a Capital One Cup tie at Stamford Bridge.

Gavin Kirkham, 28, is on bail and the Blues have banned him from Stamford Bridge until the police investigation is concluded.

Last week Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck stood by the club’s allegation against Clattenburg, when he said: “Suppose we had tried to sweep this under the rug and said to the various players, ‘Look, it’s not a big deal and the press are going to be all over us, maybe you want to reconsider’.

“If that had leaked out, we would’ve really been crucified.”

But the Blues can expect even more criticism now their case has been dismissed, while Stamford Bridge bosses fear being victimised by referees in future games following their treatment of Clattenburg.

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Source: DailyStar