Im sure he didnt refer to Mikel as a Spanish tart

On the whole Chelsea had my sympathy but lost it when they behaved so badly.

Hmm, I see where you can have this opinion, however youre basing it on rumours so far. Just like others choose to believe Chelsea are lying, CB is guilty or not and so on. You should probably choose to declare something as fact after the truth of it all comes out.

If proved guilty, which I doubt, the Clack will be finished in football...but any kind a proven frivolous claim on the part of CFC would prove calamitous to their world wide status!

I know Mikel is not Spanish, that was supposedly CB's comment.
I think if you read my comments I said it was a rumour. The point of the article was to promote discussion on a current major problem.

Personally I dont have all the answers except we take a leaf out of the book of the way rugby teams accept the refs decision, yes sir, no sir and get on with the game.

I hope the FA have the ability to sort it quickly and effectively as its getting out of all proportion.
Just heard that the Serbian police are charging two of our U21 players and a couple of our support staff on some trumped up charge, what a mess.

The problem with the Torres incident, Alex, is that he went down like a dying swan. Yes, the replays seem to show that there was contact from Evans but it was really just a glancing blow on the shin and one would have thought that Torres could easily have stayed on his feet and carried on unhindered. Instead, he very dramatically threw himself to the ground some moments after the contact. Clearly, he is not on his own here - unfortunately this seems to have become part of the modern game - but he didn't help himself. It looked like a dive because IT WAS a dive and that is clearly what the referee saw and acted upon. Yes, technically, the ref got it wrong in booking Torres - there was contact from Evans but very minimal contact. Torres sought to con the referee into thinking that the contact was much worse than it was and therefore as far as I am concerned, though technically a mistake, Torres brought the second booking and therefore the sending off upon himself.
As regards the racist comment claim, if Clattenburg used offensive, racist language, then of course he deserves severe punishment, even a lifetime ban. If however, the claim is false and designed to stir up trouble for Clattenburg, then those spreading the false rumours should equally be banned for life from the game. The fact is though, that it will be impossible to prove or disprove these claims.

Mikel had hold of his arm? Maybe he said that's a Spanish archer- El Bow. Frittata is a Spanish tart I think.

Crazy,
Thats a pretty fair description of events. I was judging it from my TV position with the benefit of replays and like everyone else we always get it right, I jest of course.
CB had to make a decision instantly and with no replay to help, mistakes will happen mainly because of players simulating greater injury.
It will be interesting to see the outcome when Chelsea appeal against the sending off.
As far as I am concerned Chelsea have a lot to answer for and I fear that the Chelsea players may well be trying to make a mountain out of a molehill to get back at CB.

And yet No - one has mentioned the Chelsea player grabbing hold of the referee repeatedly, is that not a sending off offence?

Just sent this as Chelsea as the moderators would not let it go at chels k i

Being that Clattenburg is from the north, do you think that when it all comes out he said to Mikel when being man handled,
" Get off me you Cheeky Monkey".

I thought that the ref has microphone connection to the fourth official and the linesmen.
Surely they could be brought forward to give their version of events.

Yes Hound, apparently the linesmen and 4th official will be questioned as part of the investigation.

However,. in Rugby Union, all the comments are recorded, and maybe in Rugby League, that is because you are able to hear the refs comments on the commentary.

If they cant broadcast it, as in Rugby, then surely the radio conversations can be taped, it would be a benefit to everyone, players and officials alike. It aint rocket science.

No Bob it ain't, but the Beautiful game????? being brought into direct repute?? that is why they have denied goal line technology and cameras, so that the refs can make the decisions BUT NOW even that has been brought into question by the money grabbing nancy's that kick the ball round

Dispicable behaviour displayed by a few players is not representative of the views and opinions of the majority in the game.
Dont tell me either that Rugby players are little angels either.
Racism exists in the rugby code as well, albeit also in a minor way.
Also i dont see any example of eye gouging in football and it does happen in rugby.
Those who throw and kick the oval bag of wind also have their problems in their game.
I think it would be a good idea to record the comments between the ref and the other officials which would be usefull should another case like this come up, also the recordings could be used for future referee training courses.

An open question then about footballers and rugby players and cricketers and athletes etc etc etc. Governing bodies etc etc etc. Who are the BIGGEST RACISTS? Perhaps those who demand gangs for their colour and are allowed to have segregated lawyers and associations. In the USA the coloured fought and some paid with their lives, they wanted to be accepted, it appears that now the white people in this world are being dictated to by other groups, "Where is the word" English on many forms that come through your door. No it states "White British" ???????? Fed up of all this rubbish. "Innapropriate Language" covers such comments as "Oh do go away and stop winging and complaining" Perhaps he (CB) in this case told him he could go and test how hot the bath is first if he carried on. You Hound and many of us that played sport were no doubt told that exact clause. But the more people think that they are important the more they demand protection. What a load of cry babies and that is the term our parents used to call us when we started to moan for not getting our own way, we also got clouted and told to get away before we got another - Never stayed to find out off my mam.

Time they all grew up. I played one particular game in the second row and my partner in the second row was coloured. I punched the prop forward from the second row, The ref pulled us out and sent off my colleague, the ref telling him that he saw him punch the prop on the other team, " He replied, you are blind if you saw me do it cos I am Black not white. He still got sent off.
People can make mistakes as that ref did, no argument about being racist,

My very simple view on rugby v football in terms of discipline is that the ref has a higher degree of control in rugby.

There is lot of fun going on in the scrum the cameras can't pick up of that there is no doubt. In football the player rolls over five times as if his leg is broken or a player falls as though he has just been shot, play acting of the worst kind. Then you get the player who has just been fouled suggesting to the ref that he books his fellow professional but then the replay shows there was no contact and therefore not a foul in the first place.

In football we all must accept the ref's decision right or wrong otherwise we have anarchy and the game is not worth watching. Thats not to suggest the supporter doesn't have the right to make his feelings known, thats theatre and part of the game. I am certainly not saying foul and abusive language is acceptable from anyone but intelligent banter between supporters is sadly lacking today.

Think back to the ref, David Elleray of Harrow School if my memory serves me well,
who put a microphone on his shirt so he could record the comments made to him during an Arsenal game.
Tony Adams would certainly be embarrassed if you were to play it back to him even now. The ref had to put up with foul language and being called a cheat whenever a decision went against them.

I don't think that would be tolerated in rugby and should not be accepted in football.

Chelsea's behaviour was clearly unacceptable and the jury is still out on CB.

And now yet another enquiry at Chelsea with the picture of a Chelsea fan doing a monkey impersonation allegedly in the direction of Welbeck of M U, when he had just lost possesion. Dear Me (Sorry Hound) BUT I hope they have got a book of famous Yorkshire sayings when they go to E R against Leeds in League Cup. oooooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Ey up Sithee old luv (Is that Innapropriate Language?)

, < laugh>

oooppps