Football Focus

[Mick Mac]

If Clattenberg has used racist language on the pitch I'm not surprised it became heated when he was confronted after the match. If that is the case I can't see that Chelsea have done much wrong.

It looks like they gave him the chance to explain himself and when that did not work out, they filed a formal complaint.

[Otta]

Yeah, taking their suspended thug of a captain, who played no part in the match, in to the room was probably so he could have a nice cup of tea and chat to the man.

[red devil]

maxxi Wrote:

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> Rumours that sponsors 'Belgian Supermarket Lager

> 12 Pack' are to pull out and that the season's

> budget has been invested in a bet on the Irons

> winning the FA Cup at 100/1 with BET365 are

> probably true.

I'm not sure the influx of continental beers/lagers and wine has been good for the game. English beers are being squeezed out by their cheaper continental cousins. The sooner Lager Fair Play rules come into effect the better. Some of us are struggling on a weekly 1 x 4 pack, albeit a superior brand. But we all know how quickly this can snowball...hic!

[red devil]

StraferJack Wrote:

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> Chelsea sound more and more like a club out of

> control

>

> http://mirr.im/QQScM9

Chelsea and Terry have previous on making false accusations against refs...oh look, Ashley Cole makes an appearance too...

Only yesterday, Graham Poll recalled how Chelsea players had tried to muddy the waters after he had sent Terry off at Tottenham in November 2006.

How Terry had claimed Poll had changed his reasons for issuing him with a second yellow ? and how Ashley Cole said the referee wanted to teach Chelsea a lesson and, if they didn?t calm down, he would.

Chelsea later withdrew the allegations and Terry was fined ?10,000.

[Parkdrive]

Otta Wrote:

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> Yeah, taking their suspended thug of a captain,

> who played no part in the match, in to the room

> was probably so he could have a nice cup of tea

> and chat to the man.

Briiliant Otta

[StraferJack]

Quite so RD

To be fair to Mikel he normally comes across as more laid back than most and not someone looking for a fight

The allegation I read is that the word ?monkey? was used. Given the level of emotions in the match, I wonder if that was used as a racial slur, or if Clattenburg used the more common ?cheeky monkey? when players were appealing a decision. If it was the latter (speculation on my part) I can see how it might be taken in the wrong way when emotions are running high ? but that?s not the same thing as Chelsea doubling-down after the match

Either way, someone is going to come out of this looking very bad indeed

[Parkdrive]

Naughty naughty Stevie G comparing Everton with that bastion of footballing excellence, Stoke. That nice chap Mr. Pullis will no doubt have something to say by way of a response.

[red devil]

StraferJack Wrote:

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> Quite so RD

>

> To be fair to Mikel he normally comes across as

> more laid back than most and not someone looking

> for a fight

>

> The allegation I read is that the word ?monkey?

> was used. Given the level of emotions in the

> match, I wonder if that was used as a racial slur,

> or if Clattenburg used the more common ?cheeky

> monkey? when players were appealing a decision. If

> it was the latter (speculation on my part) I can

> see how it might be taken in the wrong way when

> emotions are running high ? but that?s not the

> same thing as Chelsea doubling-down after the

> match

>

> Either way, someone is going to come out of this

> looking very bad indeed

According to reports I've read, neither Mikel or Mata actually heard the alleged remarks, both were told by other players later. Unlike the Terry case, there doesn't appear to be any video evidence to back up their claims, so if the linesmen and 4th official confirm that nothing of the like was said, it's a simple case of someone's word against another...still, keeps the FA busy

[Otta]

It's a shame there was no recording, because if he is innocent, he'll still have the accusation hanging over him and from now on people will always think of racism when they hear his name.

Good / bad ref, doesn't matter, he doesn't deserve to be labelled a racist if he didn't say anything, but there will always be doubt now.

[Mick Mac]

Obviously that's the problem Otta. But I don't see what Mikel has got to gain from making an accusation of racism if it was not true. Hence I think Chelsea have acted correctly.

Bearing in mind Chelsea have Bruce Buck, a top international lawyer at the helm, this decision to make a formal accusation will certainly not have been taken lightly.

[red devil]

I find it strange that people are saying that if Clattenburg was guilty his career would be over. Why doesn't that apply to footballers? Personally I'm all for second chances and rehabilitation after a suitable punishment is served. As well as banning/fining players, the FA should insist on racial awareness community and educative work as part of any punishment...

[red devil]

Mick Mac Wrote:

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> Obviously that's the problem Otta. But I don't see

> what Mikel has got to gain from making an

> accusation of racism if it was not true. Hence I

> think Chelsea have acted correctly.

...although mobhandling the referee in his changing room and threatening to ''break his f*cking legs'' might not go down too well.

[Alan Medic]

Something else football can learn from rugby is to allow everyone to listen to the ref's mic.

[Mick Mac]

red devil Wrote:

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> ...although mobhandling the referee in his

> changing room and threatening to ''break his @#$%&

> legs'' might not go down too well.

I think they have acted correctly in an official capacity.

Issues on the pitch should be raised with the referee immediatley after, so they are included in the match report.

Unresolved issues can be the subject of a formal procedure.

As for the argy bargy in the referees room - thats clearly not good, but who knows what caused it to get out of hand?

[Mick Mac]

Alan Medic Wrote:

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> Something else football can learn from rugby is to

> allow everyone to listen to the ref's mic.

The trouble is (all?) the players swear. But i'm amazed its not at least recorded? is it recorded?

[maxxi]

Now the police are 'investigating' will the FA wait for a year or so before doing anything; and will Clattenburg be allowed to referee in the meantime?

If he wasn't that would scream double standards surely? And if he was would there be another laughable issue with hand-shaking at matches?

A lot of precedents have been set recently for players, will be interesting to see how the FA ensures this is treated 'differently'...blah blah 'special case' blah blah 'integrity of a referee's authority' blah blah 'no question of prejudgement but obviousy impossible for him to referee...' blah blah 'suspended on full pay"...

[red devil]

Mick Mac Wrote:

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> Alan Medic Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > Something else football can learn from rugby is

> to

> > allow everyone to listen to the ref's mic.

>

> The trouble is (all?) the players swear. But i'm

> amazed its not at least recorded? is it recorded?

Apparently not...

[Otta]

Alan Medic Wrote:

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> Something else football can learn from rugby is to

> allow everyone to listen to the ref's mic.

I think it's insane that he has a mic but there is no recording made. That would clear this sort of thing up instantly.

[Otta]

Obviously I have absolutely no proof of this, but my gut feeling is that Chelsea are trying to deflect negative press from Terry, and paint themselves as the victims rather than the nasty club.

[StraferJack]

That's what I think too Otta

I don't think it was premeditated, but when the game and decisions went aganst them in heightened circumstances I think emotion got the better of them, and a quick pow-wow in dressing room deemed this course of action to be the most expedient

[Mick Mac]

I can't agree with that Otta, but in the current environment who knows.

I would certainly feel that if the racist comment WAS made, then Chelsea post Terry/Ferdinand would feel more inclined to make a bigger deal of it.

[red devil]

maxxi Wrote:

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> A lot of precedents have been set recently for

> players, will be interesting to see how the FA

> ensures this is treated 'differently'...blah blah

> 'special case' blah blah 'integrity of a referee's

> authority' blah blah 'no question of prejudgement

> but obviousy impossible for him to referee...'

> blah blah 'suspended on full pay"...

The PGMOB have already gone down this route..."scrutiny [of Clattenburg] would detract from the match and be unfair to the clubs and the supporters of both sides."

[StraferJack]

scrutiny [of Clattenburg] would detract from the match and be unfair to the clubs and the supporters of both sides."

that isn't exactly untrue tho is it?

people in authority should be accountable in ways the general public/players aren't

@MickMac

"if the racist comment WAS made, then Chelsea post Terry/Ferdinand would feel more inclined to make a bigger deal of it."

this is true, but I think there is cunning involved here and we are looking at the linguistic equivalent of a dive

[Alan Medic]

I read he is supposed to have called Mata a Spanish t**t. I suppose it depends on the context as to how bad that is, but all of this crap over 'words', which is all they are would be minor if one player lost an eye when the Chelsea fans were throwing things at the United players.

PS Spanish tortilla?

[????]

red devil Wrote:

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> I find it strange that people are saying that if

> Clattenburg was guilty his career would be over.

> Why doesn't that apply to footballers? Personally

> I'm all for second chances and rehabilitation

> after a suitable punishment is served. As well as

> banning/fining players, the FA should insist on

> racial awareness community and educative work as

> part of any punishment...

ABsolutely no way RD. he's a referee not a player. Any controversial decision against a black player??????