Poll highlights difficulties of Clattenburg case
Former referee Graham Poll believes the only way Mark Clattenburg could emerge from the current controversy around him “untarnished” would be if Chelsea were to say that their accusation that he used “inappropriate language” towards John Obi Mikel was mistaken.
Chelsea have filed a formal complaint to the Football Association over a remark they claim Clattenburg made to Mikel during last Sunday’s Barclays Premier League match against Manchester United which it is understood Chelsea interpreted to have been racist in nature.
Clattenburg is understood to strenuously deny any wrongdoing and his fellow matchday officials are expected to back him if asked to give testimony to the FA or to the police, who are also investigating the case.
“The only way that anything positive could come of this for Mark would be if Chelsea Football Club accepted that they were mistaken and then he could come out untarnished,” Poll told BBC Radio Five Live’s Sportsweek programme.
“Even if the FA said ’case not proven’, it’s got to have a detrimental effect on his career.”
Former referee George Courtney believes that there is “absolutely” no way that Clattenburg did what he has been accused of.
“I don’t believe it for one moment, absolutely not,” Courtney told Sportsweek.
“I’ve known this guy for 20 years, I’ve watched him progress through to the Football League and the Premier League. He’s an excellent referee.
“There was a lot of pressure on Mark following the (Fernando) Torres sending-off, I could see the players were really having a go at him and he kept his composure.
“I’ve got no idea what happened after the game but I’d be very, very surprised and staggered if there was any kind of racist slur.
“There is a sterile period of 30 minutes after full-time where people are not allowed to enter the referee’s dressing room, but half an hour is not long enough for people to calm down.
“In view of the alleged problem, perhaps if Chelsea had given it a day or so then there would have been a different reaction.”
Poll called on the game’s governing bodies to offer practical support to Clattenburg.
“Something should be done so referees are not left isolated,” he said.
“(Colleagues) can support you but they can’t help, they can’t take action or make a difference.
“A difference needs to be made, whether we record all the words, not necessarily for public consumption, but for the protection of referees.
“The minimum that should happen is that (conversations are) taped.
“If an allegation comes up, we replay the transcript in private so the FA can go ’it’s wrong, it’s sorted, be quiet’.
“That would really curtail some of the back chat we receive from players.
“If a player approaches you and he knows that the crowd are going to hear what he says, then that’s going to force me to take action if you abuse me.
“I think it would help massively but I don’t think the PFA or LMA would approve that.”
