As a referee, I am hugely relieved that Clatternburg has been cleared of racially abusing Mikel. Mikel could be in deep **** now as the FA obviously think he has lied or exaggerated in his version of events. I would not be surprised, should Mikel be found guilty, to see Mikel get a lengthy ban. I know that this has been discussed on the off topic thread, but as a referee myself I think it deserves it's own thread. Referees are often given ****loads of stick by the fans, pundits, media, players and managers and they can't retaliate. Whether Clattenburg said what he was accused of, only he and his assistants on the day will know, but something like this was inevitable, with the pressure referees are put under these days.
The misconduct charge is to do with entering the referee's room outside of the set times, and without the officials' permission. Then there is a charge for foul language. But yes, as a referee I always found it hard to believe and on that basis am glad that Mark is innocent.
If that's all what was said Mikel and Chelsea should be punished. A complete joke. Is every person that uses the word monkey in a sentence when talking to a black person going to be accused of racism now?
Ramires misheard it, and told it to Mikel later. Mikel was understandably upset and then reacted poorly by storming into the official's room, which he has been charged for. Fairly understandable sequence of events.
Agreed, throw the book at them. How dare they play the race card because they were upset about the result.
There would have been severe consequences for Mark Clattenburg had he been proved to have racially abused a player, and rightly so. By that standard, there should be similar consequences for any player who puts a refs future in the game at risk through false accusations.
Mikel was charged for what he did after the match, which presumably came out during the enquiry, rather than making the allegation. He might get a ban, fine, warning, whatever. The FA said that the allegation was made correctly and in good faith, so hopefully we will (finally) see the end of it now.
I don't know why, but I'm still surpised by the depths of stupidity displayed on here sometimes. What, exactly have Chelsea done wrong? One of their players thought another had been racially abused. he reported it. Chelsea investigated. Not seeing the cause for outrage.
Some people seem to have the impression Mikel just lied and made it up to try and do Clattenburg in... Ramires (his friend who speaks English poorly), told him he heard Clattenburg call him a monkey, he understandably took his word for it and with emotions already high he reacted poorly.
Chelsea were prepared to put a man's career at risk on the flimsiest of evidence. They chose to lodge a formal complaint based on nothing but heresay, and moreover, they chose to make a public announcement to that effect. all this happened very shortly after they backed one of their own players who did not deny using the words "****ing black ****." Nasty, cheap little club with no ****ing class.
You have got to be 100% sure to report these claims. Chelsea took the word of Mikel and Ramires, neither of whom could be 100% sure. The main error that was made was that it was reported straight after the game, when emotions were running high. Chelsea should have told Ramires/Mikel to think on it and if still 100% sure in the morning, report it then.
The FA have been clear that they want everything reported... And said that Chelsea acted exactly as required, Mikel not so much, but not the villain some would paint him to be. This is just hanging negativity from the Terry saga, and general Chelsea hate. More fuss over nothing. Colour me surprised.
First, you're assuming malice where none exists: the FA said that Chelsea acted correctly. Secondly, the Terry case has absolutely nothing to do with this. Seems to me they're not the ones with no class.
Wow slow down a tad guys.......Again you are all stating as fact..... hearsay. Pieking you state the Terry case has nothing to do with this......sorry mate in my view it has everything to do with this. In the sense all this business started with the hi-lighting of the abuse that actually does go on on the football field and in particular by a Chelsea player. I would have laid odds that Chelsea would have tried to get there own back in one way or other. Just a bit surprised they tried to use an official to do it. You have to admit by all accounts the game was very electric and passions running extremely high. No doubt the official had a job to keep the lid on some of the prima Donna's playing out there. A lot of players these days want to ref the match as well as play in it! Until you stop the players crowding around Refs trying to change his mind over a decision he has made. You are not going to get the rest of the field discipline in order. What was said or wasn't said in the heat of a moment, should be looked at in the context of the whole match. Chelsea FC were still reeling from the charges that one or more of their players chose to racially abuse others. It did upset the balance of the team at perhaps a crucial time to lose Terry. So you can understand their frustration. You perhaps would find it difficult to understand why they were so quick to make such serious alegations with out waiting for compassions to die down a bit as someone else suggested. To make a complaint of this nature within the short time of the alleged incident would in my view arouse suspicions anyway true or not. So my conclusion for what it is worth as I said at the time it was sour grapes and nothing more. Sadly, teams that spend the money like Chelsea, have expected other teams to just to be swept aside. They expect to win every game, it is typical, in my view, of such a rich owner who has perhaps more money than sense. To try and buy the best trophies and to throw their dummmies out (including their nannie/manager) when things are not going as planned.
I'm ashamed of my own behaviour. I went to the monkey enclosure at Marwell Zoo and started shouting the names of Chelsea players through the railings. The monkeys were all visibly upset by my actions. There were all leaping up and down and screaming in a high-pitched voices. The noise and commotion became almost unbearable when I mentioned the name Branislav Ivanovic...
I wont get involved in the greater debate any further, but I will point out that (although you may be talking to others) everything I said in my post is from the FA and Chelsea's official statements, not hearsay.
