So - 3 match ban and a £60k fine for threatening a ref, not to mention whether he was also guilty of defamation. Mikels behaviour was appalling and he should consider himself damn lucky. PL footballers are the ultimate role model for all footballers, from the youngest Junior upwards - and the effects of bad behaviour has its consequences. Just consider the events in the Netherlands this week and the death of the linesman following the assault by players. Personally think the time has long since come when these overpaid morons need to take full responsibility for their actions - and £60k and a 3 game ban won't achieve that.
It should have been more. Also Luiz or whoever told him that Clattenburg said it should be fined and banned as well.
The FA coming down on Mikel and Ramires would be the next thing Peter Herbert makes a twat of himself about...
I think it was Ramirez, King. I assume that he reported the comments in good faith though, so it'd be wrong to punish him, unless it was proved that he did so maliciously, which nobody's suggesting. We don't want to discourage anyone from reporting genuine incidents of such behaviour. As for Mikel, I really don't understand the punishment. Was Adebayor's mistimed challenge against Arsenal, for which he was rightly dismissed, somehow worse than threatening physical violence against a match official? If not, then why was he more harshly treated? Missed most of one game and then banned for the same length of time that Mikel is. Nice of Chelsea to reward him with a big contract, though!
It seems to me that Mikel is obviously not too bright! Surely, he must be aware that Ramires' English is poor? So why take his word as gospel that he knew exactly what Clattenberg said?
Quite...and the timing of his new contract is no coincidence. Chelsea still haven't apologised to Clattenburg because as far as they're concerned he deserved to be "punished". Vile club. Loathed the world over which is how it should be.
Totally agree. This is not the first time that Chelsea's players and officials have made baseless claims that have led to serious consequences. Anders Frisk had to retire after receiving death threats from fans because Mourinho claimed, without a shred of evidence, that Frisk was colluding with Barcelona in their CL match. Then Terry and Cole claimed that Graham Poll had said he wanted to 'teach them a lesson' in their match against us a few years back. Fortunately for Poll he was wearing a microphone during the game so the accusations were shown for the lies they were. Chelsea's approach seems to be: "mess with us and we will break you in any way we can". Clattenburg was publically defamed, based on hearsay, for doing his job and left facing a police investigation and potentially the end of his career. Those were serious allegations and players and clubs should not be allowed to make them on a whim just because they had a decision go against them. Referees should refuse to officiate in matches involving teams who try to bully them in this way.
It seems Chelsea are fast becoming the nastiest club since Don Revie's Leeds United......and that's saying something! Shall we call them the Chelsea Mafia? Mind you, the Arsenal team of 1970-1 were just as dirty on the field as Leeds,come to think of it.......
As far as I can tell the punishment isn't for making the complaint which, as has been stressed, was made in good confidence. The punishment is for going into the referee's dressing room after the game and having a go, threatening them etc. I think.
It wasn't even Mikel that made the original complaint, he didn't hear anything. It was Mata I believe.
