Referee Mark Clattenburg has rejected claims he used inappropriate language to two Chelsea players at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
The accusations arose in the wake of the Blues' 3-2 defeat to Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, and the Football Association subsequently launched an inquiry.
But Clattenburg is adamant he did nothing wrong and will co-operate with the probe in a bid to clear his name with the full support of the other match officials.
One of the incidents is thought to involve Jon Obi Mikel, although early reports that the language used contained a racial element have not been confirmed by the London club.
That would also apply should the police choose to launch their own probe after confirming last night they were "considering" what they described as a "complaint" from the Society of Black Lawyers.
The FA had yet to interview Clattenburg this morning but are expected to do so, possibly after requesting a written account from him about what took place during Sunday's Premier League game at Stamford Bridge.
Clattenburg has already filed what is known as an 'extraordinary incident report', which is understood to mainly deal with a meeting which is alleged to have taken place in the referees' room after full-time.
Sources told Press Association Sport that Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo, assistant manager Eddie Newton and chief executive Ron Gourlay were all present as Mikel angrily accused Clattenburg of abusing him.
The referee, his assistants and fourth official are understood to have been stunned by the claims, with Michael McDonough, Simon Long and Michael Jones denying hearing anything of that nature over the officials' microphone link-up.
Clattenburg's fellow professional referees were today understood to be as shocked and angered as their colleague over the allegations against him and were rallying around him.
what do you think?
Pat TWOMEY
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Peter Howard
Funny how no lip readers, or anyone else for that matter, have come up with any footage to back up these claims, unlike in the Terry case, which you elect to ignore as it suits you to do so. Funny how also the other three officials who hear everything that is said have stuck by Clattenberg in his denial. Perhaps you need to look at the definition of hypocrisy, you obviously have your own meaning but should clarify it before commenting. You love making assumptions for others, and presume everyone has to agree with your thoughts, try looking at the actual facts and not at what your beloved Chelsea brainwash you with.
barry simms
Just what football needed I dont think coupled with attitude by these refs which during the Match you can See, He was given a second chance by the FA so hope he hasn't blown it.
simon calvert
The society of black lawyers....get a grip it's getting so ridiculous....what next the society of black bowling players or the society of black tiddly wink players....
Peter Howard
Is there a Society of White lawyers as well? Equality works both ways !! Lol
simon calvert
The argument to that is that white people don't understand what it's like to be racially abused or underrepresented....or roughly translated,I want to have my cake and yours too.
shirley sutton
Don't know what I'd anything was said but what about abuse refs get when they're surrounded by a full team complaining - happened at Chelsea and other grounds assume they're all polite are they while they're shouting and pointing?
Austin Samara
John Terry saga, yet he is still the captain of the club, now chelsea complaining of racialism against their players, What about John Terry get a grip with him then you can talk about .......
associatebob
Peter Howard 4:23 pm on 30/10/2012 You can guarantee that every moment of any conversation Clattenberg had that is on film has been scrutinised by the media and lip reading experts, and if anything untoward picked out it would be out there. This coupled with the comments of the other 3 officials who had open mics, and back him up, makes the Chelsea claim reek of sour grapes and foot stomping, nothing more. No hypocrisy, just statement based on fact Have I missed something, when did the lip readers and 3 other officials make a statement?
Peter Howard
The Media who would have employed the services of lip reading experts have not reported any findings, and the story above says that the other officials deny hearing anything of that nature.
Peter Howard
I also say " if " When talking about the lip readers.
Tara Dunn
What is going to happen at every football match for the foreseeable future! Any player using the slightest expletive will get booked if not red carded. Dont let us forget that these people who referee the game get this abuse every game. I wonder how many are going to see a red card this wk for foul and abusive language to the referees starting tomorrow with a re-run of this same fixture. SOUR GRAPES CHELSKI. You got beat and got 2 sent off into the bargain so lets accuse Clattenburg cos we know of his chequered past. THEY HAVE THE POWER OF THE CARD, BE IT YELLOW OR RED.
andy johnson
Don't believe it bitter blues
andy johnson
when he gets found innocent i hope lengthy bans will be imposed
roy theboy
I am all for equality but a have a society of Black Lawyers is in itself surely racist ? if you swapped the word Black for White there would be an outcry from every eithnic group going. As for the Chelsea game you could call it irony given the JT saga, perhaps Clattenberg was only repeating back the words he thought was said to him ?, well Chelsea fans would you believe that as much as you did Terry explanation.
t.bulgin
Yep. Heard a joke on radio 4 earlier, some lenny henry thing. "we will stand out like a white man in an olympic 100M final" imagine how a joke like this would go down, if told by a white man. "we will stand out like a black man in an olympic swimming final" hypocrites !
t.bulgin
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t.bulgin
I agree. Also chuck abramovic out and give chelsea to gerald ratner.
MarcPayne1
Absolutely pathetic from every angle. Chelsea should be ashamed of themselves....like Liverpool last year. Also, the Society of Black Lawyers!!!!? Way to alienate yourselves....incredible! I might set up the White Club....oh no, that's right we grew out of that in the 60's.....didn't we?
Diane Rogers
Why
andy may
possibly to defend against false claims of racism!
shirley sutton
Surely the society for black lawyers and the like (quite a few of similar organisations) are racists by discriminating against non black people? Isn't there laws against that?
andy may
no shirley, unfortunately you are only deemed as vulnerable if you are within particular listed minority groups. i.e. if you are a white heterosexual able bodied male, you do not have any specific representation as you are deemed not to require any. the problem is, that many minorities get tailor made, highly motivated representation with regard to many issues they may face whilst the majority get a generic non motivated representation. that is equality in modern day britain!!
Mark Hussey
The fellow ref Will get there own back.more red cards and pens against chetski
Carl Gray
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simon calvert
I don't think you get the point most people are commenting on..... The society of black lawyers is the main protagonist here. It is ridiculous, what next, society of black mobile phone salesmen, society of black builders, society of black bankers, society of black cleaners, society of black car drivers....it's a joke ....then you hear the argument that black people need these organisations because white people couldn't empathise with the black persons situation as we enslaved them and are all institutionally racist, not even my great grandfather was engaged in slavery so I hardly see how that's relevant now. Racism, it's an overplayed card that's out of date, there will always be a defence mechanism for people that are different to yourself, it's natural and inbuilt since the dawn of time it's what defines us. Going out of your way to denigrate somebody, to stop job opportunities, and to outwardly purvey them as lesser than yourself is wrong but that counts for....fat, thin, black, yellow, white, ginger, blonde, disabled...it is no different you are just bring bullied into believing it is ...rudeness is ignorance and laziness, that's what insults are, discrimination is something entirely different.
Mark Ames
this society of black lawyers shower are a joke they have deliberately jumped on a bandwagon to gain publicity for there paranoid divisive cause & they are shamelessly courting black players in the process.As for obi mikel if clattenburg is cleared he must be severely punished for lying & if the police get involved he should be charged with trying to pervert the course of justice!! i also hope clattenburg sues him for slander perhaps an eminent member of the SOBL would take the casr? lol
endofastorm
Money is the root of all evil and there's plenty in football today. No-one else heard the alleged comment made to Mikel, no-one else heard the alleged comment made to Evra. It will be interesting to see how this pans out. In both cases Man Utd are involved. The issue of the decision to send off Torres has been completely lost in all of this.
simon calvert
Apparently he is accused of calling john obi Mikel a monkey.....monkeys come in all shapes and colours and a monkey is also an affectionate term..you can monkey around ,for being a fool too can be a monkey, racism is discrimination ,an insult is something entirely different, an affectionate jibe, there is nothing wrong with.....it's got totally out of hand slip of the tongues can be made we are all human and when your adrenaline is high, mistakes can be made...innocent ones..... On the other hand all these black unions and societies are only exacerbating the matter and creating more divisions, it's like a self imposed apartheid... What next are you going to want your own train carriages?
Peter Howard
1:43pm on 30/10/2012
Chelsea and the black lawyers association are an embarrassment to every football fan and black person in the country. Sour grapes by one and bandwagon jumping by the other, what a sad day for sport.
andy may
2:52pm on 30/10/2012
couldn't agree with you more peter. pathetic overpaid little children.
Diane Rogers
3:09pm on 30/10/2012
Did that apply to evra and Ferdinand as well somehow I don't think so
Pat TWOMEY
3:58pm on 30/10/2012
Ah, but Peter, last week you were telling us that it was a matter of simplicity with one fella abusing another and getting done for it, though not done as much as you would have liked (and the rest) by the parent body who could deliver what you wanted,despite a law court finding otherwise. This week, with your opening comment, you want to stifle a player bringing a claim of racial abuse against his abuser, when you were so much for it before. Come on fella, take off your Chelsea hating hat, dust off those cuprinol laden splinters and join us atop the KHO (Kick Hypocrisy Out) moral high ground, you know yer want to:)
Peter Howard
4:23pm on 30/10/2012
What player Pat? I don't mention any players, the complaint was raised by Chelsea, not Mikel or Mata. You can guarantee that every moment of any conversation Clattenberg had that is on film has been scrutinised by the media and lip reading experts, and if anything untoward picked out it would be out there. This coupled with the comments of the other 3 officials who had open mics, and back him up, makes the Chelsea claim reek of sour grapes and foot stomping, nothing more. No hypocrisy, just statement based on fact, which seems to frustrate you a little bit.