Chelsea fury as referee hits Mikel with racist abuse

Chelsea have filed a complaint over "inappropriate language" allegedly used by referee Mark Clattenburg towards their players during their stormy 3-2 loss at home to Manchester United on Sunday.

Sky Sports News claimed late Sunday that one of the players involved was Chelsea's Nigerian star John Obi Mikel.

Clattenburg was caught up in a storm after being accused of aiming a racist insult at Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel who stormed into the referee's room to demand an apology after claiming Clattenburg made a racist slur when he booked the midfielder in the 76th minute, according to reports in the British press.

One of Chelsea's Spanish stars is also involved after players claim they heard Clattenburg refer to him as 'a Spanish t***'.

Juan Mata is believed to be the other player involved.
 

Clattenburg sent off Chelsea pair Branislav Ivanovic and Fernando Torres in the second half at Stamford Bridge, and the Premier League leaders subsequently accused him of speaking out of turn to two of their players.

"We have lodged a complaint to the Premier League match delegate with regards to inappropriate language used by the referee and directed at two of our players in two separate incidents in today's match," said a Chelsea spokesman.

"The match delegate will pass the complaint to the Football Association. We will make no further comment at this time."

Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO), the body which represents Premier League referees, released a statement which read: "PGMO is aware of the allegations and they are being treated with the utmost seriousness.

"Mark will co-operate fully and welcomes the opportunity for the facts to be established."

All four officials - the referee, his two assistants and the fourth official - wore microphones and ear pieces that allowed them to hear what each other was saying throughout the match.

But under Fifa guidelines, what is said between them is not recorded.

Chelsea were also aggrieved that Clattenburg allowed United's 75th-minute winning goal to stand, despite Javier Hernandez having been in an offside position prior to scoring.

The defeat ended Chelsea's unbeaten start to the season and allowed both United and Manchester City to close to within a point of Roberto Di Matteo's side at the top of the table.

Chelsea have also launched an investigation into reports that a steward was injured by objects that were thrown onto the pitch in the aftermath of Hernandez's goal.

Chelsea fans in the Matthew Harding Stand hurled abuse and appeared to throw objects at the United players as they celebrated their winning goal.

The steward fell to the floor during the incident and needed approximately 10 minutes' treatment by paramedics before being taken to hospital.

"We are looking at reports of objects that may have been thrown or incidents around the steward taking a fall," a Chelsea spokesman said.

"We are investigating all the incidents around that time. My information so far is that he slipped and fell, may have hurt his knee, and was being treated by the side of the pitch."
 

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