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Chelsea lodge Clattenburg complaint

Sport
Chelsea have lodged an official complaint over alleged abusive language used by referee Mark Clattenburg towards two of their players

LONDON – Chelsea have lodged an official complaint over alleged abusive language used by referee Mark Clattenburg towards two of their players during their 3-2 defeat to Manchester United.

The official had a controversial game, sending off two Chelsea players and allowing Javier Hernandez’s winning goal to stand, despite the striker being in an offside position.

Chelsea have not revealed the details about the incidents involving Clattenburg, but have released a club statement confirming that they have lodged an official protest with the Premier League.

The statement read: “We have lodged a complaint to the Premier League match delegate with regards to inappropriate language used by the referee and directed at two of our players in two separate incidents in Sunday’s match.

“The match delegate will pass the complaint on to the Football Association. We will make no further comment at this time.”

One of the two players is understood to be John Obi Mikel. The Professional Game Match Officials has stated that it is treating the complaint “with the utmost seriousness”. Clattenburg, meanwhile, has said he’ll co-operate fully and “welcomes the opportunity for the facts to be established”.

Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo was late out to his post-match Press conference and it is understood he was discussing the match’s several controversial incidents with Clattenburg.

Meanwhile, Chelsea have launched an investigation into reports that a steward was injured by objects that were thrown onto the pitch following Manchester United’s winning goal.

Chelsea fans in the Matthew Harding stand, behind the goal in which Hernandez (24) scored, hurled abuse and appeared to throw objects at the United players as they celebrated. — Soccernet