Clattenburg saga embarrassing for Chelsea
Following yesterday’s decision from the FA to clear Mark Clattenburg of using a racial slur during Chelsea and Man United’s Premier League clash on the 28th October, the West London club are left with egg on their face after yet inducing yet another reputation shredding drama.
The game was not Clattenburg’s best by any means as he made a number of incorrect decisions which Chelsea viewed as favourable to Sir Alex Ferguson’s side but the accusations of racism directed at the referee following the game have now been found to be very wide of the mark.
It was a poor move from a club who should have excuted far more caution with regards to situation that has caused much controversy over the past year. Chelsea know first hand, via the John Terry saga, that accusing a refereeing official should not have been done unless absolutely sure that the racial slur had been made.
The most likely scenario is that John Obi Mikel, who is being charged with storming into the official’s room post game and using threatening language, was fuelled up and very emotional following a loss in which Chelsea perceived Clattenburg’s decisions went against them and used any ammunition available to him to accuse the referee of some form of wrong doing.
Unfortunately for Chelsea it has completely back fired a they are left looking to mend further a reputation which is already in tatters following the racism saga that has engulfed their captain John Terry. Furthermore, with the club receiving the wrong kind of headlines due to the sacking of yet another manager in Roberto di Matteo, the Clattenburg clearing could not have been any more ill timed.
This will be of little consequence to Chelsea fans, though, and it can be a tool for new manager Rafael Benitez to use in motivating his players. Instilling an ‘us against the world’ mentality could be very effective and used by Benitez to galvinise his squad as they try to ignore furore currently surrounding the club and focous solely on football matters.
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