Soccer:Alex Ferguson today poured scorn on Chelsea's claim Mark Clattenburg used "inappropriate language" towards John Obi Mikel, declaring: "I don't believe it." But Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo insisted the allegation "should be treated seriously, no matter what", adding of Manchester United manager Ferguson: "He likes to talk about other clubs."
Ferguson finally had his say on the latest race row to rock football this morning and he did not pull his punches, insisting there was “no way” referee Clattenburg would have abused Chelsea midfielder Mikel during United’s stormy Barclays Premier League win at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Both the London police and the English FA launched formal investigations into the European champions’ allegations Clattenburg used “inappropriate language” towards Mikel, something the official strenuously denies.
Chelsea submitted a dossier of evidence to the FA containing signed witness statements from players, who allege Clattenburg used a term understood to have been interpreted as racist. But Ferguson said: “I don’t believe Mark Clattenburg would make any comments like that. I refuse to believe it.
“I think it is unthinkable in the modern climate. I just don’t believe it — simple as that. There is no way a referee would stoop to that, I am convinced of that.”
Reacting to Ferguson’s claims, Chelsea boss Di Matteo said this afternoon: “He likes to talk about other clubs. We tend not to, so I’ll leave it up to him. It doesn’t really affect me too much to be honest.”
Ferguson was the latest big-name manager to weigh into the debate, with Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger also critical and Leeds’ Neil Warnock — who was QPR manager when John Terry racially abused Anton Ferdinand — was even more scathing.
“Nothing new to us,” Di Matteo said of the attacks. “It’s a free country where everybody has the freedom of speech. We take into consideration what other people say and use this for a motivational tool for ourselves.”
Di Matteo insisted Chelsea had done everything by the book during the Clattenburg affair but was prevented going into more detail by the club’s refusal to discuss ongoing investigations. The Blues are past masters at thriving in adversity but perhaps nothing as serious as this.
Di Matteo said: “From what I can see and feel with my group and my players, once we get onto the training pitch, they are fully focused on training and getting ready for the games. So, I really hope it’s not going to affect us at all.”
Terry appeared to cope well with his own year-long racism scandal and Di Matteo was confident Mikel also would not buckle under the pressure of the formal allegation that has been made on his behalf by the club. The Italian said: “I’ve spoken with the player and he’s fine.
“He’s a very strong character and has a very strong personality. I think he’s shown that as well in his performances. He’s been able to play and play well as well under this kind of pressure. So, from what I can see, he’s dealing with all these issues in a good manner.”
Mikel looks set to be among several witnesses interviewed during the current investigation, alongside Clattenburg and Sunday’s other officials. Assistant referees Michael McDonough and Simon Long, and fourth official Michael Jones, are understood to be ready to say they heard nothing untoward on their linked headsets in any testimony.
Ferguson, who has infamously had many run-ins with referees during his near 26-year reign at Old Trafford, had no doubt about the integrity of modern-day officials. He said: “I think in the modern game, the way we see the game today rather than how it was 25 years ago, it has completely changed.
“I played myself and I know the banter that went on between referees and players 25 years ago is different from today. I have never heard a player come to me in the last 15 years and say a referee has sworn at them during a game, ever.”
