Monday, December 23

Metropolitan Police drops investigation into the Mark Clattenburg case

The Metropolitan Police has dropped an investigation into alleged comments by referee Mark Clattenburg towards Chelsea’s John Obi Mikel and Juan Mata.

Police said there was no evidence an offence was committed during Manchester United’s 3-2 win over Chelsea.

The Football Association launched its own investigation that will continue and Chelsea made an official complaint to the FA that solely concerned Mikel.

Clattenburg has always denied the allegation he used racial words.

Chelsea’s complaint came after the police had already begun its investigation and followed a thorough investigation, which they claimed was led by outside legal counsel and used information from interviews with club players and staff.

Police said in a statement on Tuesday: “Inquiries were made and no victims have come forward. The matter will remain as a recorded incident.

“Without a victim and/or any evidence that any offence has been committed, the matter cannot currently be investigated.

“If the situation changes and a victim and/or evidence to support an allegation of a crime comes to police attention, then further inquiries will, if appropriate, be made.”

Earlier on Tuesday, Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck insisted the club are not hypocrites for supporting skipper John Terry while lodging a complaint against Clattenburg.

Buck said Chelsea have a “duty of care” towards Terry even though he was banned for four matches for racially abusing QPR’s Anton Ferdinand.

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