Mark Clattenburg suspended for this week's Premier League matches

Mark Clattenburg, the referee who was in charge for the Chelsea vs Manchester United, has been suspended for this week’s Premier League matches, as the England FA launches a formal investigation into allegations made against him for using ‘inappropriate language’ towards John Obi Mikel and Juan Mata on Sunday.

Chelsea had made an official complaint to the match delegate soon after the match got over. Both players and their agents were unable for any comments.

A brief statement from English football’s governing body read: “The FA has begun an investigation relating to allegations made following Sunday’s fixture at Stamford Bridge between Chelsea and Manchester United (Sunday 28 October 2012).

Clattenburg allegedly made racist comments on Mikel and called Mata a ‘Spanish t**t’. This, if proven, may bring an end to his career as well. He also faced criticism due to his  ’poor’ refereeing decisions in the match which created quite a big stir around the footballing world.

Former Premier League referee Jeff Winter, who was a referee for 25 years, stated that the official will be doomed if the allegations against him are proved true.

“If a match official has used racial insults or language to a player then he’s for the high jump,” Winter said.

“He won’t be getting a four-match or an eight-match ban, it’ll probably be the end of his career, but that is if indeed he did say anything.”

He added: “I feel it very unlikely that Mark Clattenburg would be allowed to referee until it’s dealt with so we certainly don’t want this going on for weeks and months.”

Winter also said that it was ironic that it was a referee this time to be accused of using ‘inappropriate language’, something which the referees are bound to hear from the players and the fans after/during every match.

It is not the first time that Mark Clattenburg is in the spotlight for the wrong reasons. Here are a few instances:-

1) In 2005, he was the referee who failed to spot Pedro Mendes’ ‘ghost goal’ at Old Trafford for Tottenham.

2) In 2007, he sent off Everton player Tony Hibbert by upgrading his yellow card to red, after a consultation with Steven Gerrard. It was not before five years that he was next allowed to officiate an Everton match.

3) In 2009, he was suspended following allegations against him owing £60,000 as a result of a failed venture. Clattenburg was alleged to have run up debts relating to companies connected to him, forcing the Football Association and the referees body Professional Game Match Officials Ltd to act. He was due to take charge of the 2009 FA Community Shield clash between Manchester United and Portsmouth, but he had been replaced by Peter Walton.