OUTRAGED Chelsea stars have given sworn statements claiming John Obi Mikel WAS racially abused by ref Mark Clattenburg. They are prepared to give evidence to the FA inquiry set up to investigate the accusations after the 3-2 defeat by Manchester United.
The statements were taken from several senior players at the club’s training ground yesterday when they reported for a warm-down. It is also alleged Clattenburg called Juan Mata ‘a Spanish t**t.’
The row took a further twist last night when the Metropolitan Police became involved after the Association of Black Lawyers reported the incident as a “racially-aggravated offence” against Mikel and Mata. Police chiefs will now have to decide whether a criminal offence was committed by Clattenburg.
FA chiefs are determined to deal with the explosive allegations as a matter of urgency after being accused of dragging their feet over the John Terry case.
It took an independent commission an agonising 11 months to finally suspend the Chelsea captain for four games and fine him £220,000 for racially abusing QPR’s Anton Ferdinand.
Clattenburg, 37, has already been left off the list of appointments for this weekend’s Premier League fixtures. And he is unlikely to take charge of another game until the matter has been resolved.
The game’s governing body launched the inquiry last night after receiving an ‘extraordinary incident report’ from Clattenburg and a further report from match delegate Nick Cusack.
Chelsea have accused Clattenburg of using ‘inappropriate language’ to two of their players. Nigerian international Mikel is convinced he was racially insulted by Clattenburg and stunned the Chelsea dressing room when he repeated the words he believed had been used to him.
When it was then claimed that one of the club’s Spanish players, believed to be Mata, was also insulted by the ref, chairman Bruce Buck and chief executive Ron Gourlay were both summoned.
It is understood that at least three players aside from Mikel, including Brazilian Ramires, have stated they heard Clattenburg’s comments.
Boss Roberto Di Matteo was accompanied by Mikel when he confronted Clattenburg with the allegations in the referee’s room after the match.
And it was only after two hours of discussions with the players to establish the full facts that Chelsea decided to proceed with their official complaint.
Referees’ union Prospect declared: “We are committed to helping to eradicate racism in football and in society generally.
“In the context of that commitment, Prospect is offering full support to Mark Clattenburg in relation to the allegations made against him.”
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