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| Arsène Wenger criticises Chelsea for making Clattenburg claims public | Arsène Wenger criticises Chelsea for making Clattenburg claims public |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Arsène Wenger has criticised Chelsea for helping to turn the Mark Clattenburg race row controversy into a damaging spectacle and for initially "going public with little proof", suggesting it was always preferable to resolve such issues man-to-man and behind closed doors. | Arsène Wenger has criticised Chelsea for helping to turn the Mark Clattenburg race row controversy into a damaging spectacle and for initially "going public with little proof", suggesting it was always preferable to resolve such issues man-to-man and behind closed doors. |
| Clattenburg is understood to deny the allegation that he called the Chelsea midfielder Mikel John Obi a "monkey" during the club's home defeat to Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday. | |
| The referee has heard support from the referees' union, Prospect, and the Professional Game Match Officials while, most significantly, his assistant referees and fourth official, with whom he was in contact via microphones, are believed to be ready to stand by him. | The referee has heard support from the referees' union, Prospect, and the Professional Game Match Officials while, most significantly, his assistant referees and fourth official, with whom he was in contact via microphones, are believed to be ready to stand by him. |
| Chelsea, though, having complained to the match delegate in the aftermath of the game on Sunday, formalised their demand for action on Wednesday with a direct complaint to the FA. They have submitted witness statements to the governing body and they believe that Clattenburg has a case to answer. | Chelsea, though, having complained to the match delegate in the aftermath of the game on Sunday, formalised their demand for action on Wednesday with a direct complaint to the FA. They have submitted witness statements to the governing body and they believe that Clattenburg has a case to answer. |
| The next move will surely come from the FA, after they have concluded their enquiries, in the form of a decision over whether to charge Clattenburg. That is not expected imminently. The Metropolitan police, too, have opened an investigation. | |
| Chelsea's second official statement on the matter on Wednesday, before the Capital One cup win over United at Stamford Bridge, once again made no mention of the racial dimension to the allegation, referring only to Clattenburg's "inappropriate language". | Chelsea's second official statement on the matter on Wednesday, before the Capital One cup win over United at Stamford Bridge, once again made no mention of the racial dimension to the allegation, referring only to Clattenburg's "inappropriate language". |
| Wenger, the Arsenal manager, offered his view on Thursday morning and he seemed to pick up on the criticism of the timeline that Chelsea have followed. After making the initial complaint in public, they investigated more thoroughly over three days and with the help of external legal counsel, before they took the decision to formally call upon the FA to act. It felt as though Chelsea had given themselves no conceivable room to backtrack. | Wenger, the Arsenal manager, offered his view on Thursday morning and he seemed to pick up on the criticism of the timeline that Chelsea have followed. After making the initial complaint in public, they investigated more thoroughly over three days and with the help of external legal counsel, before they took the decision to formally call upon the FA to act. It felt as though Chelsea had given themselves no conceivable room to backtrack. |
| "My opinion is just that I prefer, when I didn't behave well, that I have an explanation with the referee at the end of the game or on another day, [rather] than going public with little proof," Wenger said. "I'm not a great believer in making these stories public. | "My opinion is just that I prefer, when I didn't behave well, that I have an explanation with the referee at the end of the game or on another day, [rather] than going public with little proof," Wenger said. "I'm not a great believer in making these stories public. |
| "I have not always behaved very well, they are very heated situations but I am a deep supporter of doing that internally. One of the great things in sport, especially in England, is that when the battle is on, you can sort out the problems you had internally. If it becomes a sport to make the lawyers rich, I am not a fan of it. | "I have not always behaved very well, they are very heated situations but I am a deep supporter of doing that internally. One of the great things in sport, especially in England, is that when the battle is on, you can sort out the problems you had internally. If it becomes a sport to make the lawyers rich, I am not a fan of it. |
| "One of the great things in sport as well is tolerance, forgiveness and explanation internally and I think it should stay like that. It can happen that a referee doesn't behave well, I do not say they are angels, but it is always better to sort it out in the room." | "One of the great things in sport as well is tolerance, forgiveness and explanation internally and I think it should stay like that. It can happen that a referee doesn't behave well, I do not say they are angels, but it is always better to sort it out in the room." |
| Chelsea maintain that it would have been disingenuous of them not to have flagged up their concerns promptly after the match. | Chelsea maintain that it would have been disingenuous of them not to have flagged up their concerns promptly after the match. |
| The club and the police have also opened an investigation after a supporter at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday was photographed making an apparent "monkey" gesture towards a United player. Chelsea are looking into a number of incidents involving United fans after one of them invaded the pitch and objects were thrown from the stands. | The club and the police have also opened an investigation after a supporter at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday was photographed making an apparent "monkey" gesture towards a United player. Chelsea are looking into a number of incidents involving United fans after one of them invaded the pitch and objects were thrown from the stands. |