FA takes no further action against Clattenburg while Mikel is charged.
After investigating the referee's alleged abuse of John Obi Mikel, the
association does not believe the offical has a case to answer - and
has charged the Nigerian midfielder.
The FA will take no further action against referee Mark Clattenburg
after concluding its investigation into the official's alleged
misconduct during the Premier League match between Chelsea and
Manchester United .
The west London side made a formal complaint about the 37-year-old
after Ramiresand Jon Obi Mikel told club officials of their belief
that the referee had abused the Nigerian 25-year-old on October 28.
However, the FA do not believe the official has a case to answer - and
Obi Mikel has been charged with using threatening and/or abusive
and/or insulting words and/or behaviour in or near the Match
Officials' room.
The FA's official statement reads: "The FA has concluded its
investigation into alleged misconduct by Mark Clattenburg during the
match between Chelsea FC and Manchester United FC on Sunday 28 October
2012. No disciplinary action will follow against Mr Clattenburg."
The FA revealed the chronology of their investigation as follows:
"Following the conclusion of the match, Chelsea FC reported to the
match delegate that two of their playershad been separately subject to
abuse by the match referee, Mark Clattenburg.
"On Monday 29 October 2012, The FA contacted Chelsea FC to establish
whether the club and individual players wished to make a formal
complaint in relation to the allegations reported to the match
delegate.
"On Wednesday 31 October Chelsea FC contacted The FA and confirmed
that the club had conducted an internal enquiry and that they did wish
to proceed with a formal complaint in relation to one of the
allegations of abuse. The club did not wish to proceed in relation to
the other allegation. The club provided witness statements from two
players, Ramires Santos do Nascimento ("Ramires") and John Obi Mikel.
"The details of the allegation were that following one or the other of
the red cards issued during the second half of the game, Ramires heard
Mark Clattenburg say to John Obi Mikel, "shut up you monkey". John Obi
Mikel did not hear the alleged comment.
"On 1 November 2012, The FA requested that Chelsea disclose full
details of their internal investigation.
"On 5 November 2012, Chelsea FC provided The FA with witness
statements from other Chelsea FC players and officials.
"On 5 November 2012, The FA interviewed Ramires and John Obi Mikel,
using the TV match footage obtained by The FA.
"Between 7 and 8 November 2012, The FA interviewed all four match officials.
"On 9 and 14 November 2012, further to FA requests, Chelsea FC
provided unbroadcast video footage of the game from static cameras.
"On 15 November 2012, The FA re-interviewed Ramires to show him the
previously unseen video footage provided by the club. At this stage,
for the first time, the exact point at which the comment was alleged
to have been made was established.
"Chelsea FC was offered the opportunity to provide any further
information or evidence that they believed could be relevant to the
allegation.
"The FA then sought advice on the evidence gathered from independent
Queen'sCounsel.
"The evidence for the allegation came from one witness, Ramires.
Ramires, whose first language is not English, explained that his
instinctive reaction was to seek confirmation from John Obi Mikel as
to what the referee had said.
"John Obi Mikel, who was being spoken to by the referee, was much
closer to the referee than Ramires and did not hear what it is
suggested was said to him.
"Three other witnesses, i.e. the other Match Officials, to whom
everything said by referee was relayed via their communication
equipment, are adamant the alleged words were not uttered.
"There is nothing in the video footage to support the allegation.
"For completeness, but of lesser weight, two other players, whose
first language is English and were in the vicinity, did not hear
anything untoward.
"Having considered all of the available evidence it was the opinion of
David Waters QC, independent counsel, that the evidence of Ramires was
not supported by any other evidence. Moreover it was contradicted by
other witnesses and does not cross the evidential threshold required
to bring a charge against Mark Clattenburg.
"Equally The FA is satisfied that the allegation against Mark
Clattenburg by Ramires was made in good faith. It is entirely possible
for a witness to be genuinely mistaken and convincing in his belief.
"The FA receives and investigates numerous allegations of misconduct
over the course of a season. All allegations are properly
investigated. It is not uncommon for investigations to lead to no
disciplinary charge being brought.
No comments:
Post a Comment