Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg has opened up about a shocking incident involving former Chelsea and Super Eagles midfielder John Mikel Obi. According to Clattenburg, Mikel tried to physically assault him after a controversial match between Chelsea and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge in October 2012.
The match, which ended in controversy and heated emotions, saw the Blues suffer a 3-2 defeat. But what followed after the final whistle sparked headlines beyond football tactics and scorelines. Chelsea Football Club at the time accused Clattenburg of racially abusing Mikel Obi during the game. The club alleged that the referee had used a racial slur, reportedly calling the Nigerian international a “monkey.”
Following a thorough investigation into the matter, the English Football Association found no credible evidence to support the serious allegation. Clattenburg was eventually cleared of any wrongdoing. However, the incident took another turn when it emerged that Mikel Obi had confronted Clattenburg after the game.
In a recent appearance on the podcast “Undr The Cosh,” Clattenburg revisited the ugly aftermath of that heated encounter. He claimed that Mikel stormed into the referee’s dressing room in a rage and attempted to physically assault him. According to Clattenburg, the midfielder came in swinging punches and even tried to pin him against the wall.
“There was a bit of commotion outside the dressing room door after the Chelsea versus Manchester United game,” Clattenburg recalled during the podcast interview. “As I opened the door to see what was happening, John Obi Mikel came bursting through and just started swinging punches. I ducked, avoided the first few, and then he tried to pin me against the wall. He was shouting, swearing, completely enraged.”
The incident did not go unpunished. While Clattenburg was cleared of any racial misconduct, the FA took disciplinary action against Mikel Obi for his post-match behavior. The midfielder received a suspension and was handed a hefty fine of sixty thousand pounds for threatening and attempting to physically assault a match official.
The 50-year-old Clattenburg, who officiated in the Premier League for over a decade and handled several high-profile matches including UEFA Champions League and European Championship finals, described the experience as one of the most intense and disturbing moments of his career.
The altercation remains one of the most talked-about referee-player clashes in Premier League history, casting a shadow over what was already a highly emotional match between two of England’s biggest football clubs.
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