Racism Allegation: Mark Clattenburg cleared; ...John Obi Mikel charged with misconduct

Premier League referee Clattenburg, accused of saying “shut up you monkey” to Nigeria international Mikel during Chelsea's fractious 3-2 defeat against Manchester United on Oct 28, was found to have no case to answer following an FA investigation into the claims made by Mikel’s team-mate, the Brazilian midfielder Ramires.

While no further action will be taken against Ramires, who the FA believes acted in good faith, Mikel has been charged with using threatening and/or abusive and/or insulting words and/or behaviour following an incident in the match officials’ changing room following the end of the game. Mikel last night accepted the charge but asked for a personal hearing to explain his behaviour. He could face a three-match ban if found guilty. 


Chelsea, meanwhile, refused to apologise to Clattenburg.

But with his name cleared by the FA – the Metropolitan Police had earlier dropped its investigation into the allegations – the 37-year-old referee revealed how he had endured a month of torment, fearing his career would be “wrecked”, while waiting for the FA investigation to reach its conclusion.

“The messages of encouragement from those inside and outside of the game have helped me through the most stressful time of my professional life,” Clattenburg said. “To know you were innocent of something, but that there was the opportunity for it to wreck your career, was truly frightening.