Chelsea regret Clattenburg racism allegations

Chelsea Football Club have expressed their regret over the club’s handling of the Mark Clattenburg racism allegations towards Chelsea midfielder John Mikel Obi.

The allegations were dismissed by the Football Association and the police dropped their own inquiry earlier this month.

The club have also indicated they would be happy for Clattenburg to referee at Stamford Bridge in future.

In a joint statement issued by the Professional Game Match Officials Ltd and Chelsea that have said: “There was a constructive and open discussion. The club regrets not having given more consideration before issuing a statement on the evening of Sunday 28th October.

“The club also regrets the subsequent impact the intense media scrutiny had on Mark Clattenburg and his family.

“The referees accept that, given Chelsea FC had received a good faith claim from one of their employees, the club had an obligation under FA rules to report the allegation.

“There was recognition by all parties that the impartiality and integrity of refereeing in this country remains paramount.

Clattenburg missed four weekends of Premier League matches while the FA investigated Chelsea’s complaint, but will return to referee Norwich’s match at Southampton on Wednesday.

The FA cleared him last week of using “inappropriate language” towards Mikel in Chelsea’s home defeat by Manchester United on 28 October.

Clattenburg admitted that he feared that the allegations could have brought an end to his career as a referee.

“To know you were innocent of something but that there was the opportunity for it to wreck your career was truly frightening,” he said in a statement after being cleared by the FA.

Upon clearing Clattenburg, the FA charged Mikel with misconduct following his involvement in the incident.

Chelsea have indicated he will not deny the charge but will request a hearing to “explain the mitigating circumstances”.