Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger slams Chelsea over Mark Clattenburg's race row

Arsene Wenger has slammed Chelsea for their handling of the Mark Clattenburg race row.

Shortly after their controversial 3-2 defeat to Manchester United the Blues stated their intention to lodge an official complaint against Clattenburg over allegations he made racist comments about a Chelsea player.

Having conducted an internal investigation they formally lodged their complaint with the FA on Wednesday evening, while the Metropolitan Police have also launched an official investigation following a request from the Society of Black Lawyers’.

The issue has dominated the headlines since Sunday and Wenger believes the Blues should not gone public with their complaint, preferring to deal with things internally.

“I believe one of the best things in sport is it’s a battle when it is on,” Wenger said. “You can sort out the problems you had, especially in England, internally. If it comes to making the lawyers rich I’m not a fan of it.

“One of the great things in sports as well is tolerance, forgiveness and explanation internally and I think it should stay like that. It can happen that a referee doesn’t behave well, I do not say they are angels, but it is always better to sort it out in the room.

“I didn’t follow the whole [Chelsea] story completely [but] my opinion is just when I didn’t behave well I have an explanation with the referee at the end of the game or another day, rather than going public with little proof. I’m not in favour of making these things public.”