Not for the first time Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg is centre of the headlines. Chelsea have launched an official complaint against the man who was in charge of their 3-2 defeat at home against Manchester United on Sunday.
Reports from Stamford Bridge claim Clattenburg made comments containing “inappropriate language” against two Chelsea players during the top of the table clash.
However, Mr Clangerburg is not new to stealing the show with a number of previous faux pas making him a controversial character.
January 2005
During his time in goal for Manchester United Roy Carroll fumbled a shot from Pedro Mendes which crossed the line and Clattenburg, along with his assistants on the day, failed to award the goal.
October 2007
Clattenburg dismissed Everton full-back Tony Hibbert in bizarre fashion as he appears to show a yellow card before quickly changing his mind to produce red. As the game progressed he then failed to show red to Dirk Kuyt for a double-footed lunge on Phil Neville, resulting in the match official kept away from Toffee’s matches until 2012 and the Durham man is yet to make an appearance at Goodison Park since.
August 2008
The referee was withdrawn from the Community Shield match between Manchester United and Portsmouth before being sacked as allegations came to light he owed £60,000 as a result of a failed business venture. By February 2009 Clattenburg was reinstated.
December 2009
Allegations are made against Mr Clattenburg claiming he asked Manchester City players “how do you work with Craig Bellamy all week” during a match against Bolton before sending off Welshman Bellamy for a second yellow card.
October 2010
Tottenham goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes places the ball down believing he has a free kick before Manchester United winger Nani runs up and kicks the ball into an empty net without Clattenburg blowing the whistle yet the referee allows the goal to stand.
Although this is another case to add to a long list for Clattenburg possibly the most worrying and harrowing thought is that a match official could face investigations of racial abuse.
In recent weeks football has seen more than enough of the R word with John Terry being found guilty by the FA and the riot which ensued following an England Under 21 match in Serbia. And the case of Patrice Evra and Luis Suarez is not much of a distant memory for many football fans either.
It is one thing for isolated instances to occur in the heat of moment, which in themselves can never be condoned, but should match officials be involved in such incident it is absolutely intolerable and the fA have no option but the crackdown and serve out severe punishments to quash the issue.
As cycling begins a mountain climb following the Lance Armstrong doping saga and cricket aims to eradicate match-fixing scandals which has engulfed officials football now needs to find a way to calm it’s very own storm and move on to get back to the heart of the ‘beautiful game’.
Ben Hampshire (@BH92)
Through the sports lens 